Brendan Carr floats TV ratings for transgender content

Source: msn/Politico

12h


Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr is opening the door to posting warning labels on television programs that include transgender issues — drawing his normally technocratic agency into one of the Trump administration’s most contentious fights. Carr is seeking public input on whether the ratings applied to TV shows should be modified to flag themes on gender identity, in addition to existing topics such as violence and sexual content, according to a public notice issued Wednesday.

The notice could create a new front in the GOP’s handling of transgender issues, which has included state laws limiting public bathroom use and administration efforts to ban trans athletes from sports and restrict access to gender-affirming care.

“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,” the FCC notice said. “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.”

At issue is the voluntary rating system for parents, which is overseen by a TV industry management board. The ratings appear on the screen during the start of programming, and include recommendations for age appropriateness and descriptions on what type of content people may find offensive. Parents can block unwanted programming using the ratings and the V-chip in modern TVs.

Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/brendan-carr-floats-tv-ratings-for-transgender-content/ar-AA21u7ej