'American Girl' Article Brings Protests Against Montgomery County Family

A Montgomery County family is under fire from a conservative group after one of their daughters was featured in a November/December “American Girl” magazine article about foster care.

The article is told through 11-year-old Amaya’s perspective, and details her experience being adopted along with her biological brother, Makai, into foster care by her dad — who also was once a foster care child.

The family also has a charity where they provide backpacks stuffed with supplies to other foster children.

“We collect new stuff from people who want to help, such as toothpaste and toothbrushes, new underwear, pajamas, and clothes that a child needs for his or her next foster home,” Amaya says in the article. “I help out a lot—sorting donations and showing volunteers how to pack the bags.”

The family now has a total of four foster care children: Amaya, Makai, and two brothers. They live with their dads, Rob and Reese Scheer in Darnestown.

That last part is why One Million Moms — a national conservative organization “fed up with the filth many segments of our society, especially the entertainment media, are throwing at our children” — is calling for a boycot of American Girl and Matel, its parent company.

“American Girl is attempting to desensitize our youth by featuring a family with two dads,” the website says. “If your child has not seen this yet, then be careful she is not exposed and can avoid a premature conversation she is far too young to understand.”

The family doesn’t understand why the group would target them, especially considering the charity work they do.

“How could somebody hate us so much in their heart by looking at our kids?” Rob said, according to the Washington Post. “That’s what shocked me.”

Rob also appeared on WJLA Friday to talk about the backlash.

“There’s 364,000 children in foster care,” he siad. “Maybe they should take their energy and focus on those kids.”

Watch his full interview here.

Image via One Million Moms