Parents: The terms "Gay" and Transsexual" in a commercial at 4pm on ABC Family Channel?

Question

I don't normally use this term, but- WTF?

My 12 year old son is watching Harry Potter on ABC Family and then a commercial comes on for Adam Sandler's new movie "Domestic Partnership" and they highlight a scene where he says something like, "we're supposed to be gay- not transsexuals!"

Who / What BRILLIANT corporate-advertising exec. thinks this is OK to be showing this during a children's movie?

If I want to educate my child about homo and trans sexuality- I will do it when he is ready and when we are having a discussion about sexuality in general. The terms don't need to be thrown abruptly in his face in a commercial during the broadcast of a children's movie. This is not about bashing the lifestyle of other people, this is about appropriate content for a supposed family channel that undoubtedly has children even younger than mine watching.

Answer 1

I'm with you. So now you know what ABC Family means when they spout that "a *new* kind of family" tagline. The solution is simple... tune out ABC Family permanently, let ABC know you're doing so, and get on with teaching your children good morals. TV for children is just another environmental toxin... you can't entirely avoid it, but the less your kids absorb, the better.

Answer 2

I can sort of see your point in that I think it is silly for them to advertise a barely PG-13 movie (they petitioned to get it down from an R) with crude sexual content to the same audience that is watching Harry Potter, but I wouldn't censor it. (I just think they're wasting their ad dollars.)

I would never let my child watch "I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry" (as much because I think it is disrespectful of the gay community as because I think the humor is too raunchy), but I don't think just hearing the words "gay" and "transsexuals" is that bad a thing. First of all, I'm guessing that by 12, your child already knows the words, and if you haven't had the sex-ed discussion with him either his school or his friends has. Plus, I know of at least five children in my school who have two mommies or two daddies (I only taught one, but I know of the others and I am sure there are more), and I would think that your son knows of some as well. I think this would be a good opportunity to discuss the issue with him if you haven't already. Good luck with it!

Answer 3

Look some people are on the same side of bisexuals and some aren't i mean people out there in the world are really bi so honestly your gonna be seeing that on TV and out there in life i have nothing against people who prefer the same sex all I'm trying to say is you should explain this to your child that their are people like that but please don't explain to him in a negative way

Answer 4

HUH - a government regulation question being asked by a Ron Paul supporter - did I understand the question properly?

So, why would this NOT be OK in your book? First amendment rights and free market arguements aside - what is wrong with this?

I mean - if your child doesnt know what the terms mean - this gives great opportunity for you to explain.

So this question really gives rise to your own personal philosophy and whether or not its true to you - you see - as a libertarian whatever you want for others you want for yourself - so if you dont want government regulations for others then you dont want government regulations for yourself - you cant have it for one and not the other - thats an inconsistent philosophy

I as a libertarian often run into these type of dilemas for myself and I must stop and think - think what it means as a whole and what I would want for the whole - not just for myself - one of my BIGGEST pet peeves with the government is the regulating of choice - I dont think they have any right deciding anything which is MY choice

Therefore I dont think they should regulate what comercials are on TV or at what time - I think its my job to make the decision of whether or not I want the kids to watch tv and I can monitor what is watched - it would obviously be my job to answer any questions that come from that viewing as well

While I think this is a bad place to put the commercial and that society can rectify this type of behavior easily enough - I disagree with any government regulations that would control this situation

Answer 5

One, by the time I was 9 I knew what those terms were. Two, is it not better for your 12 year old to hear those words and not have his parents show anxiety or contempt over it? Your setting the example that it's unwanted and not to be talked about right before he hits the teen years. Then again, it's not my kid. I do agree that it should be shown later on at night. But this is coming from someone who saw a commercial about making a plan with your kids in case there was a terrorist attack while watching an American channel in the middle of the afternoon.

There are many worse commercials, like the American Pie ones I saw when I was younger... and I've grown up on The Simpsons since before I can remember. The point is, your child is almost a teen and will hear those words eventually. It's better to teach him to respect them rather than to view them negatively.

And no, I don't expect you to like this answer at all. Most parents, including my own, hate the idea of their children growing up.

Edit.

I agree, my post is direct. However seeing the second paragraph is more general it ties my answer to your concern. I understand that you're all concerned for the world's youth. The point is sex ed. starts in grade one. By that time children already know what sex is. By grade 6 they're scared off by graphic descriptions of STD's and in grade 9 the graphic pictures come along with it (I so did not want to see a warty, hairy man-part at 9:30 in the morning, believe me). My general point was, not enough people care that it's on there and most children won't even let it phase them. I mean how many tampon, condom and lubricant commercials have I seen during the daytime when I was old enough to notice them? Hundreds. It's not something that one individual being annoyed by it can change.

My point is, your kid most likely already knows what it is and you being all uptight and making a deal out of it will probably just embarrass him and make him uncomfortable about talking about "mature" things in the future. Your son is nearly grown to 'that' age and he's going to grow up either way. Like I said, many of you will not like my answer, most can't accept how fast kids grow up.

Answer 6

I have kids and trust me, I notice that outside forces are shoving things down kids throats that really should be left up to individual families. It's one thing for kids to talk about this stuff with friends at school (and they do); its something totally different for kids to be picking this stuff up from TV and on a family channel. Obviously ABC FAMILY could care less about what is being shown on their commercials to young kids. Most of these other posters here are mistaking your concern for some kind of homophobia, and they are obviously mistaking your point. You bring up yet another very good reason why TV is not a good place to let our kids hang out unsupervised.

Answer 7

Don't you think this would be a perfect time for you to speak to your son about what it means to be a homosexual or transexual? AND use this time to teach tolerance and understanding to your child that everyone is different but love everyone the same?

So waht, if the kid knows what it means you can have an open conversation, if he doesn't, its just another commercial that goes over his head.

Answer 8

What I find odd is that you are going to nit pick over the term gay and transexual when there are as many parents out there who oppose Harry Potter's message that you obviously have no problem letting your child watch.

Answer 9

i think it's fine. why do you want to hide your child to the fact that there are millions of gay people in the world. why is that something that has to wait until they are adults. beleive me, a 12 year old learns plenty of the subject at school. no kid in 7th grade is oblivious to this

Answer 10

Oh, you're one of "those." I feel sorry for your kids...but not because of what they heard on the TV. Please get a life.