FCC Chair Pushes for Gender Identity Warnings for Children’s TV

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr is pressing ahead with a review of television ratings after House Democrats opposed possible content warnings for children’s programs that include transgender or nonbinary themes. The fight centers on a question parents are increasingly asking. Should shows aimed at young children disclose when they include storylines about gender identity? Carr says parents deserve that information before they press play. In an April public notice, the FCC’s Media Bureau asked whether the TV Parental Guidelines system gives families enough detail about children’s programming, including shows that discuss or display gender identity themes. The bureau said parents had raised concerns about such material appearing without disclosure or transparency. The issue is not theoretical. Carr’s Sept. 22 letter to House Democrats pointed to several children’s programs that, he said, introduce gender identity themes while carrying ratings intended for young viewers. One example was Disney Jr.’s TV-Y-rated Muppet Babies. In the episode Gonzo-rella, Gonzo wants to wear a princess dress to a royal ball and takes the name “Gonzo-rella.” The character is referr...