People Don’t Want FCC’s LGBTQ+ TV Warning Label: GLAAD
Most public comments about the warnings were against them, according to an analysis by the organization.
The Federal Communications Commission is considering placing a warning label on TV shows that include LGBTQ+ content, but an analysis conducted by LGBTQ+ media monitoring nonprofit GLAAD found that many people don’t believe these warnings are needed.
Earlier this year, the FCC posted a public notice to add the label to shows with queer characters or stories.
“Recently, parents have raised concerns that controversial gender identity issues are being included or promoted in children’s programs without providing any disclosure or transparency to parents,” the notice reads, according to Out. “Specifically, the industry guidelines that parents rely on are rating shows with transgender and gender non-binary programming as appropriate for children and young children, and doing so without providing this information to parents, thereby undermining the ability of parents to make informed choices for their families.”
Related: Hollywood’s LGBTQ+ Representation Is Worse Than You Think, According to GLAAD’s New Report
In response, GLAAD set out to analyze all of the public comments submitted to the government for consideration. What it found was that 80% of the 33,739 surveyed rejected the warning labels, Out reports.
It further found that 95.8% of the 27,285 comments that had rejected the potential warning labels were unique comments, according to the outlet. However, more than 57% of supportive comments were written via a template verbatim.
The potential labeling comes as the Trump administration continues to target trans people through executive orders against gender-affirming care, trans athletes, and more. Republican-controlled states have also passed laws restricting trans rights, including discussions of LGBTQ+ content in classrooms.
“The FCC’s proposed changes would cause unnecessary harm to LGBTQ people and families, who deserve to see themselves represented as any other American,” GLAAD wrote in a comment to the FCC and attributed to its president and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis, dated June 22, which Out notes was the deadline for public comment on the proposal. “This proposal will erode freedom of speech in the United States and limit the entertainment industry’s ability to operate freely and without government interference, disempowering parents to make the best decisions for their children and families.”
The comment also included data conducted with Morning Consult, which found that most of the more than 2,000 polled did not want the warning labels on TV shows with LGBTQ+ content — 63% did not support the proposal. They also found that 65% of those polled and 69% of parents polled believe that parents should have the decision on what their children watch without the government having warning labels on the shows with certain families.
“Per the most recent Gallup polling, 23% of American adults under 30 are LGBTQ. An estimated five million children are being raised by LGBTQ adults. The FCC’s efforts to limit inclusive programming will not reduce the number of LGBTQ young people. These efforts will simply make LGBTQ people’s lives harder and go against what the vast majority of Americans want for their families,” GLAAD’s comment said.
