Sen. Braun Seeks LGBTQ+ TV Rating Systems
Sen. Mike Braun along with four other Republican Senators are calling for a TV rating system for any programming that contains LGBTQ+ characters or content. They ask the chairman of the TV Parental Guidelines Monitoring Board to respond to their request by May 18th.
Congress initiated the original TV Parental Guidelines in 1996 to help parents gain more information about the content on screen. The TV Guide icon indicates the audience the program is appropriate for, if the show contains violence, sex, adult language, or suggestive dialogue.
Braun wants a similar rating to also note if the program contains any LGBTQ+ content so parents could make a decision on whether they want their children to watch or not.
The two-page letter the GOP Senators express concern for parents not able to properly monitor what their children are watching.
“In recent years, concerning topics of a sexual nature have become aggressively politicized and promoted in children’s programming, including irreversible and harmful experimental treatments for mental disorders like gender dysphoria….In light of parents raising legitimate concerns on sexual orientation and gender identity content on children’s TV shows, we expect the Board to fulfill its responsibility in updating the TV Parental Guidelines to reflect these concerns.”
Tony Katz argues they should be fighting to get rid of the rating system period.
“It is the job of the parents to be looking at the content and saying yay or nay. Kids don’t have a say, they don’t get a choice… You get a say in what you’re kids watch.”
The letter is signed by Braun, Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS), Mike Lee (R-UT), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), and Steve Daines (R-MT.)
