TLC announced back in December that it would be airing a special in January, titled My Husband’s Not Gay, that would follow married Mormon men who describe themselves as heterosexual despite being attracted to men.
However, the series has now found itself in the crosshairs of GLAAD, who is pressuring the network to cancel the show.
A petition by change.org, which was launched by Josh Sanders, now has 70,000 signatures and states the program “promotes the false and dangerous idea that gay people can and should choose to be straight in order to be part of their faith communities.”
An organization called Truth Wins Out pointed out “seven cast members of TLC’s show are connected to North Star, a radical Mormon ‘ex-gay’ group.”
The organization said that Jeff Bennion, one of My Husband’s Not Gay’s stars, “has written extensively in support of the deeply harmful practice of ‘ex-gay’ therapy.”
GLAAD President & CEO Sarah Kate Ellis also spoke of the show saying, “This show is downright irresponsible. No one can change who they love, and, more importantly, no one should have to. By investing in this dangerous programming, TLC is putting countless young LGBT people in harm’s way.”
The petition’s creator says he was inspired to stand up, “because these men deserve compassion and acceptance.” He added, “TLC is presenting their lives as entertainment and sending the dangerous message that being gay is something that can and ought to be changed.”
The network responded to grievances in a statement saying, “The individuals featured in this one-hour special reveal the decisions they have made, and speak only for themselves.”
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