TLC, once upon a time called The Learning Channel (those days are long gone), is fighting for viewers in a crowded cable-TV field, and for better or worse, controversy sells. And, like anyone else, TLC execs want to be thought well of in the industry and be acclaimed as pioneers (and thereby keep their jobs). So, if there’s a shiny new cause they can champion that accomplishes all those things, they’re on it.
From today’s The Hollywood Reporter “Transgender Teen Activist Lands TLC Reality Show”:
The 11-episode series will feature Jennings — dubbed “The New Face of Transgender Youth” — in her daily life, juggling her foray into high school while navigating how a transgender teen approaches dating and sleepovers all while avoiding male puberty.
And …
Added Marjorie Kaplan, group president at TLC and Animal Planet: “We know that families come in all shapes and sizes, but at their core, they are all about love, acceptance, and support. Only TLC can tell this family’s story in way that celebrates and demystifies difference in an effort to help create a world without prejudice.”
The series, which will bow in the summer, hails from This Is Just A Test and will be executive produced by Aengus James and Colin Miller.
The story also outlines the current spate of “transgender”-themed programming — click here to read the whole thing.
For example, over at Discovery Life Channel (from Variety):
Discovery Communication’s rebranded Discovery Life channel is looking to the “new frontier” of transgender stories in its effort to bring viewers to the channel, which debuts Jan. 15.
Discovery Life is affording one of its biggest promotional pushes to the six-part docu-series “New Girls on the Block,” which follows a group of transgender women in Kansas City, Mo. Series, set to bow April 2, got a showcase at the Television Critics Assn. press tour on Thursday.
“It’s a new frontier,” “New Girls” exec producer Jay James told Variety of the transgender community on TV, recently highlighted by Amazon’s “Transparent,” which is nominated at this weekend’s Golden Globes, and the popularity of actress Laverne Cox from “Orange Is the New Black.”
The premiere date for the five-part series has now been changed to April 11. Click here to read the whole thing.
I have no doubt these will be warm, positive portrayals, full of courageous people standing up against the cold, unfeeling world denying them the right to live life the way they see fit. I also wouldn’t be surprised if, somewhere in there, we saw some bigoted, backwards Christians.
So, what to do? TV channels are doing these shows to capture curious viewers, because “transgenderism” is the new “in” thing. Also, it puts networks in good stead with LGBT activist groups, which can make a lot of noise and trouble if they’re unhappy or feeling ignored.
And that’s the key. LGBT activist groups are organized, vocal and relentless in their quest to change how their constituents are portrayed and to increase the number of LGBT people visible in TV shows. There are also plenty of LGBT people working in entertainment, at all levels, to create, shepherd and promote projects.
They’re winning through a combination of external pressure, and internal presence and influence.
It’s a strategic blueprint we need to study and emulate, if we’re to increase the quality and visibility of orthodox Christian and Catholic personalities and characters on TV. We can’t control what the audience will be interested in, but if you’re vocal when you see things you don’t like AND you’re present inside the industry to push what you do like, then things can happen.
After all, according to the CDC, LGBT people altogether comprise only about 3 percent of the population. Whereas, according to a PewResearch poll, 78.4 percent of Americans are Christian, with 23.9 percent Catholics.
If we’re not represented, it’s because we’re not trying hard enough. And in any race, to the victors go the spoils.
Image: YouTube
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