TLC Announces Series With Teen ‘Transgender’ Activist

Last updated on: March 12, 2015 at 9:36 am by Kate O'Hare

TLC Announces Series With Teen ‘Transgender’ Activist 2015-03-12T09:36:09-08:00 Kate O'Hare

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

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

media

television

Previous Post

March 11, 2015

Joseph to 'Justified' to 'One Big Happy,' Choices and Consequences

Next Post

March 12, 2015 Fox News Adds Pro-Life MLK Niece Alveda King

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category books breaking news digital media Faith practice food interview jane the virgin media movies music NFL Pope Francis Showbiz 101 social media sports technology television Uncategorized video

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz