(NEW YORK)— PEN America joined more than 40 other organizations today in filing a joint comment opposing a FCC Public Notice about possible changes to the TV Parental Guidelines age ratings system to alert viewers to “transgender or non-binary programming” and “the discussion of promotion of gender identity themes.” The FCC’s public notice comes amid numerous actions under the current administration to threaten using its regulatory power as leverage against broadcast networks over the content they air.
PEN America’s Jonathan Friedman, Sy Syms managing director of U.S. Free Expression programs, said: “The FCC is trying to take the tactics of censorship from our libraries to our living rooms. Proposing a kind of ‘warning label’ for LGBTQ content on TV is a means to silence and seclude LGBTQ stories and characters. This isn’t being pursued in isolation; it’s the latest development in a years-long campaign to weaponize government to control American culture, whether through book bans in schools or by prohibitions on teaching and research in universities. This disturbing idea is a direct assault on our freedom of speech, and the right to create and receive art, knowledge, and culture that should be guaranteed for all.”
The Federal Communications Commission on April 22 released a Public Notice asking for public comments related to the TV Oversight Management Board (TVOMB). The Public Notice questions if “transgender and gender non-binary programming” and “the discussion or promotion of “gender identity themes” should change existing TV content ratings. Among the questions put out for public comment are, “Should such programming be rated differently or contain relevant descriptions so that parents can make informed decisions?”
GLAAD, in its statement on the filing of the joint comment, noted that it is unclear how the FCC would even implement this proposal, for example if “gender identity themes” could include gay, lesbian, and bisexual characters; or how media companies would define it when assigning ratings.
About PEN America
PEN America stands at the intersection of literature and human rights to protect free expression in the United States and worldwide. We champion the freedom to write, recognizing the power of the word to transform the world. Our mission is to unite writers and their allies to celebrate creative expression and defend the liberties that make it possible. Learn more at pen.org.
Contact: Suzanne Trimel, [email protected], 201-247-5057