U.S. Rep. Barry Moore (R-Enterprise) recently filed legislation that would require televised parental disclaimers to warn viewers when children’s programming contains transgender, non-binary, gender transition or “abnormal gender expression themes."
Last month, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chair Brendan Carr said the agency was considering adding warning labels to television programs featuring topics related to transgender or nonbinary identities.
TV age ratings, ranging from TV-Y for children to TV-MA for mature adults, are often accompanied by content labels for topics such as violence and suggestive content.
Moore’s legislation includes new disclaimers for the current ratings system that notify viewers of violence, sexual content, language and suggestive dialogue.
“Woke leftist activists and major media corporations have worked hand-in-hand to push transgender ideology into children’s programming without giving parents clear notice,” Moore said. “Parents deserve transparency about the content being shown to their children. My legislation holds media companies accountable by requiring clear warning labels when children’s programming contains transgender themes, gender transition content, or other gender identity messaging. Families should not be blindsided by ideological content hidden inside entertainment marketed to minors. This bill empowers parents to make informed decisions and restores common sense.”
The idea has drawn the ire of some LGBTQ+ activist groups, like the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), Advocates for Trans Equality, the Human Rights Campaign, and the National Women’s Law Center Action Fund.
The groups claim the move would stigmatize transgender people and would be akin to government-imposed censorship.
“The FCC is cloaking itself in purported concern for parents in an attempt to censor content, intimidate industry, and silence depictions of our trans siblings and neighbors,” said Brian Dittmeier, director of LGBTQI+ equality at the National Women’s Law Center Action Fund.
GLAAD president and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis accused the FCC of attempting to interfere with Americans’ freedom.
“The FCC does not set TV ratings, but under this administration the FCC has repeatedly tried to control what Americans can see on their own televisions,” Ellis said.
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