Trump administration urged to review Netflix’s LGBT content for kids as part of merger deal

The Trump administration may want to take a closer look at LGBTQ content in Netflix’s children’s shows before signing off on the streaming giant’s merger with Warner Bros. Discovery, as far as the Concerned Women for America is concerned.

The conservative group called for additional scrutiny on the megadeal after finding that 41% of Netflix shows rated appropriate for youngsters contain LGBTQ content, including transgender characters and same-sex couples.

The organization’s report, “LGBTQ Messaging Pervasive in Netflix Children’s Programming,” showed that both 41% of G-rated programs and 41% of TV-Y7 shows include LGBTQ elements, a result that CWA President and CEO Penny Nance called “shocking.”

“With Netflix’s acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, Netflix will be the dominant streaming service, one that many families will be pressured to embrace because of their huge and diverse catalogue which includes the Harry Potter franchise,” Ms. Nance told The Washington Times in a Tuesday statement.

“But the fact that Netflix actively drives the expansion of LGBTQ+ themes into children’s programming and shows should make both parents and government regulators pause to consider the consequences of such a distortion of the market,” she said.

Netflix was hit with a conservative backlash in October after billionaire Elon Musk encouraged his followers on X to cancel their subscriptions “for the health of your kids,” prompting the streaming giant to lose an estimated $15 billion in market value.

The #CancelNetflix campaign was triggered by a Libs of TikTok post about the lead transgender character in the animated children’s show “Dead End: Paranormal Park,” which ran for 20 episodes before being canceled in 2023, but remains available on the platform.

Concerns on the right about Netflix’s push for “creative equity” surged after Netflix announced Dec. 5 an $82.7 billion agreement to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, prompting a competing hostile bid from Paramount.

The Netflix deal must still clear the scrutiny of federal antitrust regulators. President Trump has also said he plans to be involved in the decision.

Ms. Nance called for an outside, independent council representing the interests of parents to be part of the process, saying that if the deal goes through, “Netflix will be able to expand its irresponsible approach to content moderation for children.”

The CWA study of 326 Netflix series on the G-rated programs and TV-Y7 rating containing LGBTQ elements was released last week.

Within the G-rated programs, 18% of the content was rated “explicit,” meaning characters explicitly identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or nonbinary, and 19% was “meta,” referring to families or participants in reality programming.

The percentage of “explicit” content in TV-Y7 shows was 24%.

Netflix has actively sought to boost LGBTQ representation in its programming, partnering with the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism in 2021 to track “inclusion in its scripted film and series content.”

Netflix does have strong parental controls on its content, allowing families to block access to programs with which they disagree, as noted by a source familiar with the company.

Some of Netflix’s children’s content is original, while other shows are licensed from outside providers, part of the company’s commitment to providing viewers with a wide range of choices, the source said.

Warner Bros. Discovery’s children’s shows include brands such as Cartoon Network, Cartoonito and Discovery Kids, as well as the eight “Harry Potter” movies based on the bestselling novels by British author J.K. Rowling.

The irony is that Ms. Rowling may be the world’s most visible critic of transgender ideology, particularly female-identifying males in women’s and girls’ spaces.

Advocates argue that LGBTQ characters and themes are underrepresented in entertainment, but Ms. Nance said the opposite is true on Netflix.

“Our report also reveals that Netflix content creators have knowingly pushed the envelope in an effort to expose children to adult themes,” she said. “Netflix’s children’s programming far outpaced real-world LGBTQ demographics and accelerated dramatically after 2021.”

In 2023, Netflix introduced more children’s shows with LGBTQ content (14) than those without it (9), the report said.

“The hundreds of thousands of mothers, daughters, and grandmothers I represent believe that conversations about sex and sexuality are sensitive, personal, and different for every family and child,” Ms. Nance said. “Those conversations should take place only when the parent deems it necessary and developmentally appropriate. No parent wants to be forced to have a conversation about adult sexual preferences or gender identity with their child because of a cartoon.”