What do you think transgender television looks like?
Well, the obvious answer is I Saw the TV Glow. Or maybe that’s transgender cinema? Well, what’s the difference, in this day and age? One way or another, Federal Communications Chair Brendan Carr would very much like to ban transgender television programming, and he thinks Democrats are absolutely nuts for failing to see what an existential threat to society it is.
Classic Trump appointee shit.
Here’s the context: Back in April, Carr indicated that the FCC would like to hear from concerned parents about whether or not the current ratings procedure for television shows was adequately protecting their kids from finding out that trans people exist. Completely real, unnamed parents, Carr said, “argue that New York & Hollywood programmers are promoting controversial issues in kids programming without providing any transparency or disclosures to parents.”
The FCC’s Media Bureau said, in their request for comments, that “significant concerns have been raised about the ratings system. For instance, commenters have raised concerns with the FCC about the accuracy of the ratings, the appropriateness of the ratings, and a shift or ratings creep in which mature, adult or inappropriate content is being rated as appropriate for young children.”
Sounds like fictive twaddle to my cynical ears, but what do I know? I don’t have kids, I don’t watch kids’ shows, and hell… I don’t even own a TV these days! If I consume media, it’s plopped at my computer chair or curled up in bed with the ol’ tablet, and everything I watch is violent and sexy and weird. Decidedly not appropriate for kids.
Anyway, the comments period ended in late May, and—in the timely fashion of Democratic congresspeople—the Congressional Equality Caucus responded a full month later to say:
“Programs should not have higher ratings or content warning simply because of the identity of the programs’ characters. Applying higher ratings or content warnings because of a character’s gender identity would be harmful to transgender people and transgender acceptance and would harken back to a time when politicians sought to censor television programming because they included minorities. Any attempt by FCC to censor content because it includes transgender characters or topics would raise both legal and constitutional concerns[…] Any attempt to issue rating warnings for depictions and themes related to transgender people would also raise concerns of content-based and viewpoint discrimination in violation of the First Amendment.”
Trying to outdo his opponents in congress, Carr apparently just replied to these remarks this past Tuesday. Actually, are these letters physically mailed? If so, I couldn’t say when the letter was postmarked, so maybe he sent it back in June and the heavily defunded USPS has only just delivered it.
Carr said, “I am deeply concerned by the position that you and over 60 of your Democrat colleagues in the House of Representatives are taking regarding the right of parents to know whether their sons or daughters are being exposed to controversial gender identity ideologies—including the promotion of transgender and gender non-binary programming—in television shows that are rated as appropriate for young children.”
“In your letter, you come out swinging against both transparency and common sense,” the letter goes on, and on, and on. “You stake out the radical position that parents have no right to know whether controversial gender identity ideologies are being promoted in children’s television programming. In your view, parents should not be empowered to make informed choices about the programs their children watch.”
This letter was acquired by Fox News, and no, I will not be linking back to their website. If you want to give them traffic for some inexplicable reason, you can Google the article I’m referencing. You know… sort of like how parents can Google the contents of shows on TV before they park their goblins in front of the screen and toddle off to post mean gossip on Nextdoor?
Describing the mere existence of trans people in television programming as promoting “controversial gender identity ideologies” is absolutely insane, but you’ll really get a kick out of one of the shows he warns are promoting these dangerous gender ideas: There is an episode of Muppet Babies on Disney Jr. where Gonzo wants to dress as a princess instead of a knight.
Are you thoroughly terrified?
Carr wraps up his letter by saying, “Opposing transparency puts you on the wrong side of the issue. Parents are nearly unanimous in wanting to know what their children are watching and to determine for their own families what shows are appropriate. Despite your opposition, the FCC will continue its work to empower parents and continue to engage with stakeholders as part of the agency’s open and ongoing proceeding [sic].”
There it is… empowered parents. Sounds a lot like those Parental Rights™ these absolute dweebs keep blathering on about, doesn’t it?
Well, far be it from me to question whether or not these “nearly unanimous” parents who all hate trans people actually exist. I’m sure Carr could produce every parent on earth at a moment’s notice, and they would all agree with him. Such is the nature of the office of FCC Chair… your power is limitless.
Like I said, I don’t have kids, but if I did, I’d probably want them to know about the weird sex abuse cult Brendan Carr is alleged to have been a member of. That seems like relevant information when it comes to a guy who’s insisting he has the best interest of parents and their kids at heart, right?
Is there a warning label we can slap on you, Brendan? Let me know.
