Parents Growing Concern Over LGBTQ Themes in Kids’ Programming

A new report from advocacy group Concerned Women for America (CWA) has raised concerns about the increasing presence of LGBTQ themes in children’s television programming, particularly on streaming platforms like Netflix. According to CWA’s analysis, a significant portion of popular shows marketed toward young audiences contains elements related to gender identity and sexual orientation.

Penny Nance, CEO of CWA, expressed alarm at how deeply these themes have penetrated even the youngest viewership segments. She noted that over 20% of programming aimed at preschoolers includes LGBTQ themes, despite such content not being representative of real-world demographics in children’s media. “I was most surprised that they had targeted preschool children,” Nance stated. “Over 20% of the shows for the youngest audiences incorporate LGBTQ themes.”

This trend appears to have accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic years when increased reliance on digital entertainment placed more content suitable for young viewers online. The report highlights examples from well-known franchises like The Magic School Bus Rides Again and Strawberry Shortcake: Berry in the Big City, where characters are explicitly depicted as part of the LGBTQ community.

Nance believes parents should be cautious about relying solely on age ratings to determine appropriate media for their children. “Parents feel dismissed when questioning these developments,” she said, emphasizing that impressionable minds require careful guidance from guardians rather than industry assurances alone.

The rise in such content coincides with data showing a sharp increase in self-identification among Gen Z youth regarding LGBTQ identity. While Netflix and others tout diversity as a strength of their programming, CWA suggests the current level of representation may be excessive for children’s media.