GLAAD Slams FCC’s Brendan Carr For TV Ratings Inquiry’s “Harm On LGBTQ Americans”: “This Is About More Than Television”

Following Brendan Carr‘s latest proposed media crackdown, GLAAD has called out the FCC chair for his inquiry’s “harm on LGBTQ Americans.”

On Wednesday, following Carr’s inquiry into the TV ratings system claiming that “parents have raised concerns” about onscreen transgender representation, the LGBTQ media advocacy organization slammed Carr’s “government overreach.”

“Parents should absolutely have a say in what their kids watch, and parents already know that seeing an LGBTQ person on screen or in real life does no harm,” said GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis in a statement. “What does cause harm is government overreach. Under Brendan Carr, the Federal Communications Commission is once again attempting to dictate what can be seen on television.”

Ellis noted, “The reality is that 23% of Americans under 30 are LGBTQ, and more than 5 million children have LGBTQ parents. Media companies must be allowed to create and broadcast stories that reflect one-quarter of their audience without interference from a government agency with its own anti-transgender political agenda.

“But this is about more than television,” she added. “It’s about whether a government agency gets to reshape culture, limit storytelling, and undermine free expression. Americans should make their voices heard by submitting a comment that rejects this latest attempt by Brendan Carr’s FCC to manipulate the media, erode freedom of speech, and harm LGBTQ Americans.”

Earlier on Wednesday, Carr’s FCC launched a new inquiry into the TV ratings system, including whether issues of gender identity are being included in children’s programming without flagging that content to parents, the latest scrutiny he’s placed on program content.

“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,” reads an FCC public notice. “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. Consistent with Congress’s vision for the ratings system, we seek comment on whether the industry’s approach is continuing to provide the information that is relevant to parents today.”

In responding to Donald Trump’s attacks on the media over their coverage of the war in Iran, among other things, Carr has warned broadcasters of their public interest obligations, even though First Amendment advocates note that the FCC’s authority is limited.