This Sunday morning, I woke enveloped in the Bubble of Love, a spiritual practice that opens my heart to the day. As I tuned into the program Eternal Hope: Voices Across Faiths on Life’s Horizon, featuring Bishop Paul Gordon Chandler, Rabbi Yehuda  Glick, Imam Omar Suleiman, Swami Sarvapriyananda, and panelist Hanibal Rodriguez, hosted by a neutral moderator, the discussion unpacked death not as finality but as a threshold to eternal restoration—drawing from Scripture, shared rituals, soul-like consciousness, and modern science (e.g., palliative neuroscience). It stirred my soul. It reminded me of lessons from Katrina and George, who taught me that where two or more are gathered, there is a sacred space—church. Following this, I called my dear colleague Tammy, and together we wove a tapestry of conversation—God, theology, politics, womanhood, and widowhood—finding solace in shared reflections. The morning’s theme of death and the hereafter lingered as I used Tammy as a sounding board to refine the details of this article. It’s through this lens of spiritual grounding and communal dialogue that I grapple with the unsettling rise of the Portland Frog meme, a protest symbol that, with its suggestive animations on platforms like TikTok and X, risks exposing children to exploitation, much like controversial toys such as L.O.L. Surprise Dolls. I’m compelled to share my reflections and urge advocacy for protective measures like Melania Trump’s Take It Down Act and the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) to shield our children and future generations.

My Thoughts on the Slippery Slope of Frog Cosplay: Innocence Lost in Disguise

Cosplay has always sparked creativity in my view, but frog-themed variants, echoing memes like Pepe the Frog (which was sadly hijacked by alt-right elements), carry hidden dangers. Those bulky suits hide identities, and I’ve worried about how predators could use them to approach kids under the pretense of “fun.” A 2025 story from Malaysia about a child in a frog costume begging for donations stirred something in me—netizens’ fears of adult exploitation felt all too real. Similarly, in China, authorities intervening with a frog-costumed street performer amid public outcry over vulnerabilities reminded me how cosplay can veil coercion or grooming. In my personal advocacy circles, I’ve heard stories of online algorithms pushing adult content to kids, and promoting the Portland Frog only amplifies this, with its thrusting videos synced to explicit lyrics normalizing sexualized aggression. I shudder thinking of children on #FrogTok mimicking these moves, oblivious to the undertones, becoming unwitting targets for those who prey on “playful” online interactions.

Personal Fears: How This Could Lead to Children Being Exploited

These aren’t abstract concerns for me; they’re deeply personal. I’ve read about grooming in cosplay communities, where adults don disguises to build trust with minors, and frog cosplay’s whimsical appeal—reminiscent of beloved characters like Kermit—lowers guards in ways that keep me up at night. Posts on X warning about early exposure to suggestive content, like kids drawing or posing in sexualized ways, attracting pedophiles, hit close to home; it encourages vulnerability that no parent wants for their child.

This echoes my reflections on toys highlighted in reports from Business Insider and Yahoo News: L.O.L. Surprise Dolls, with their hidden bondage lingerie and “caution” slogans on intimate areas revealed in cold water, subtly introduce sexualization that blurs childhood boundaries. Just as these dolls confuse maturity with immaturity, frog cosplay’s veiled suggestiveness—like phallic animations—desensitizes kids to personal limits, heightening grooming risks. Dr. Michael Carr-Gregg’s insights on how such exposure damages self-esteem and ties worth to sexuality resonate with my own observations of how children absorb these messages. Online, where Portland Frog merch and edits spread like wildfire, predators might exploit the meme to lure “willing victims,” much like the CloudPets data breach that exposed kids’ voices to strangers. It’s a chilling parallel that fuels my resolve to speak out.

The Heartache of Promotion: Lasting Damage to Our Kids

In my quieter moments, I grieve how promoting the Portland Frog—via videos, cosplay, or memes—invades children’s spaces with adult themes. Its blend of sexualized “rage” muddles rebellion with predation, potentially scarring young minds or numbing them to violence. Discussions on X about exposing minors to suggestive elements, like drag or AI images, amounting to non-contact pedophilia, erode the innocence I cherish from my own childhood memories.

Similar to Teen Talk Barbie’s sexist quips or Rad Repeatin’ Tarzan’s implied masturbation, the frog’s motions objectify bodies, teaching kids that aggression is “cool.” This forced “adultification” links to mental health struggles in research I’ve followed, and it amplifies exploitation in a society where pedophilia affects 1-5% of adult males (about 1-5 per 100), with 20% of girls globally enduring childhood sexual abuse that often leads to adult trauma.

Connecting the Dots: From Childhood Wounds to Women’s Assault

As a woman reflecting on these patterns, I see how girls exposed to this grow up in a world that normalizes objectification, stoking high rape rates (U.S.: 38.4 per 100,000, with 91% female victims). The frog’s sexualized aggression mirrors assaults driven by power imbalances, perpetuating cycles where early grooming scars adulthood. X posts on double standards—fun for boys, predatory for girls—echo my frustrations with these inequalities.

A Beacon of Hope: Melania Trump’s Take It Down Act

In my advocacy reflections, I’m grateful for efforts like Melania Trump’s push for the Take It Down Act, signed in May 2025, which criminalizes nonconsensual intimate imagery and demands quick removals. Building on her Be Best initiative, it targets grooming content like these frog videos, offering protection that gives me hope for change.

Why I’m Advocating for the ERA: A Personal Plea for Equality

On a deeper level, I believe the full passage and ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) is a cornerstone solution we must champion together. First proposed in 1923 and passed by Congress in 1972, the ERA declares: “Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.” In March 2025, Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) introduced S.J.Res.38, a joint resolution to affirm its ratification by lifting the 1972 congressional deadline. The bill was read twice and referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee, signaling bipartisan momentum toward embedding gender equality in our Constitution.

From my perspective, formalizing the ERA would create a solid legal shield against sexualization in media, toys, and cosplay like the Portland Frog, while tackling vulnerabilities that lead to assault. By banning sex-based discrimination outright, it would empower courts to dismantle gender stereotypes—such as content targeting girls—and bolster laws like Title IX and the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). In a world where 91% of assault victims are female and early exposures amplify risks, the ERA’s passage would affirm our shared commitment to equality, curbing harmful norms and creating safer spaces for kids. Advocates, including bipartisan lawmakers who reintroduced resolutions in March 2025, emphasize that without it, fragmented protections aren’t enough; ratification offers lasting, national safeguards to end abuse cycles and advance true equity. Though slipping the ERA into budget reconciliation is a long shot given its non-fiscal focus, such a path could speed progress with a simple majority. Moreover, it would secure VAWA funding by mandating gender protections, resisting cuts to programs like victim grants, training, and prevention—vital for combating exploitation seen in trends like the Portland Frog.

Conclusion: The Essential Role of Passing the ERA

In wrapping my reflections, I see passing the Equal Rights Amendment as absolutely essential to counter threats like the Portland Frog meme and the sexualization in toys such as L.O.L. Surprise Dolls. By constitutionally guaranteeing gender equality, the ERA would equip us to uproot the systemic objectification that endangers children through suggestive cosplay and perpetuates sexual assault. Alongside actions like Melania Trump’s Take It Down Act and robust VAWA support, the ERA’s ratification is indispensable for protecting innocence, disrupting abuse patterns, and building a society where equality empowers us all to prevent predators from hiding behind play or protest. I urge you, from the heart, to join me in advocating for its passage—contact your representatives, share your stories, and amplify this call. Together, with the power of 10—multiplying our voices tenfold through networks, petitions, and conversations—we can make this a reality and create a safer world for every child.

Sources:

• Business Insider: https://www.businessinsider.com/toys-that-are-controversial-2019-3

• Yahoo News Australia: https://au.news.yahoo.com/woman-uncovers-secret-messages-on-popular-childrens-toys-110925200.html

• Various X posts and web reports on Portland Frog and cosplay risks (accessed October 19, 2025).

P.S. If you’re moved to act, consider a $20 donation to support “20 for 20” campaigns backing women’s rights initiatives—every bit helps amplify our collective voice.