The Federal Communications Commission is using the presence of “controversial gender identity issues” in children’s television programs as a pretext to question how TV ratings are developed and enforced, according to a notice published Wednesday by the federal agency.
The notice generally checks TV ratings, but it clearly indicates that these industry guidelines have rated shows that contain “non-sexual and transsexual programming” as suitable for children. It argues that parents are not given this information, “thereby undermining the ability of parents to make informed choices for their families.”
In the document, the FCC asks a series of open questions about the development of TV ratings, including whether the board responsible for the guidelines is “adequately balanced” with opinions outside the entertainment industry and if religious organizations should be represented in the body.
“What else can the board do to include family-oriented views — underrepresented in the media industry — in its rating system?” It asks for a notification.
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FCC Chairman Brendan Carr announced a public notice on X, explaining that “parents have expressed concern about the industry’s approach.” He added that these parents believe that “New York and Hollywood programmers” are promoting questionable content on children’s programs without disclosing it to parents. Carr did not mention gender identity in his X post.
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TV parental guidelines can include both ratings and definitions for content that includes foul language, sexual situations, and violence.
LGBTQ+ advocates criticized the public notice, saying it amounted to discrimination and censorship.
“Trump’s FCC is trying to turn transgender people into a warning label,” Tyler Hack, executive director of the transgender rights group Christopher Street Project, said in a statement. “It is dehumanizing, and part of a broader political strategy to discriminate against LGBTQ+ people in all corners of society.”
Sarah Kate Ellis, president and CEO of GLAAD, described the notice as government overreach.
“Media companies must be allowed to create and broadcast news that reflects one-quarter of their audience without interference from a government organization with its anti-transgender political agenda,” Ellis said in a statement.
Jimmy Kimmel vented. This is a rousing monologue.
This is not the first time Carr has been accused of censorship. Carr said the broadcasters are spreading “lies” and “distortions” that also happen to be unpopular with President Trump. Carr suggested that the broadcasters’ licenses would not be renewed.
In March, dozens of free-speech experts argued in an open letter to Carr that his threats against broadcasters are “illegal fodder” and his vague definition of “fake news” violates the First Amendment. The writers asked Carr to “back off” his threats.
