A pregnant woman on TikTok posted a video showing herself playing ABBA's "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)" next to her stomach with the caption: "POV you're pregnant with a boy and gotta make sure he turns out a little gay." The post included the text "No toxic masculinity allowed in this house."
The video, initially posted by user Katie Frank, was later shared on X by independent journalist Cam Higby. It has since accumulated 4.3 million views on TikTok and more than 950,000 likes.
The comment section drew widespread attention, with numerous mothers sharing their own approaches to encouraging interests in their sons they associated with being gay. The debate quickly spread beyond TikTok, drawing responses from commentators across the political spectrum.
What the Right Is Saying
Conservative commentators criticized the video and its underlying premise. Actor Kevin Sorbo wrote on X: "Not sure who needs to hear this, but this is child abuse."
Riley Gaines, a conservative commentator, posted: "But they say gay people are 'marginalized and oppressed'...so they want their kids to be oppressed???"
Others focused on the specific approach. Andrew Gruel responded: "I grew up listening to air supply and ABBA, this technique doesn't work."
Independent journalist Cam Higby, who initially shared the video, wrote in his post describing it as "DISGUSTING."
What the Left Is Saying
Supporters of the video praised what they described as an environment of acceptance and openness. Many commenters identified as LGBTQ+ themselves, saying such attitudes from parents would have helped them earlier in life.
One self-described gay user wrote: "Didn't start my transition until just recently because I never given the space to explore who I was as a child. Seeing the moms in the comment section who let their kids be who they are without judgement gives me a bit of hope."
Another commenter identified as a gay man stated that "this comment section is making me tear up, thank you for being so loving and accepting Moms!"
A mother with a four-year-old son commented: "My son is four and exclusively listens to sabrina carpenter... hopes are VERY high," a post that received more than 97,000 likes.
Another parent celebrated her son's interest in theater camp. "My son just officially came out a few months ago," she wrote in a comment that garnered over 150,000 likes.
A third commenter said: "I can confirm this worked for me." Another wrote: "Manifesting for you."
What the Numbers Show
The original TikTok video by Katie Frank received 4.3 million views and more than 950,000 likes on the platform.
One comment celebrating a mother's supportive approach to her son's interests received over 150,000 likes.
A comment from another mother about her son's music preferences received more than 97,000 likes.
The controversy has not resulted in any reported government action, legislation, or regulatory response as of publication.
The Bottom Line
The viral video represents an intersection of social media culture, parenting debates, and ongoing discussions about LGBTQ+ acceptance. While the post generated significant engagement on both sides, it remains a cultural moment rather than a policy development.
No legislative proposals have emerged from either side regarding parental influence on children's sexual orientation. The debate continues to play out primarily in comment sections and across social media platforms, reflecting broader societal divisions over family, identity, and parenting philosophy.