Dr. Phil's "Modern Families" Show Excludes Queer Families

Dr. Phil hosted a show today called "How Do You Define a Modern Family?" which featured different families and issues including childless couples, single parents, cross-cultural adoption, and age differences between couples. The show did nothing to address queer families of any sort and reinforced the myth of the "traditional family" unit.

The shows excerpt says:

"In the 1950’s, the ideal family consisted of a mother, father, two kids and a white picket fence. But the traditional family unit has evolved with extended families, single parents, gay parents, adoption and no children" (Dr Phil).

Sounds like a good show right? Too bad his show featured no same-sex families with or without children. Any show on "modern families" should be inclusive of sexual and gender diversity, featuring gay/bi and trans families. What about polyamorous families, are they not modern or does Dr. Phil disregard them as a family?

Dr. Phil's show has had a number of offensive programs about the LGBT community. His silence on LGBT issues especially when relevant in a show like this is equally offensive.

Send your comments to Dr. Phil demanding fair and inclusive LGBT coverage.

Sign our twitter petition demanding more progressive coverage on queer issues.

Dr. Phil show
5482 Wilshire Boulevard #1902
Los Angeles, CA 90036

New Year's Resolution: LGBT Inclusivity on Dr. Phil Show!

People who have been reading this blog for some time know that I have been monitoring and demanding that the Dr. Phil show refrain from using homophobic, biphobic, and transphobic topics on their show as they have done several times in the past. I was also quick to praise them for their attempt to create positive and LGBT-affirming coverage.

Over the past several months I have continued to monitor their upcoming shows to make sure that topics such as those in the past are not scheduled. I am pleased to say that there seems to have been major improvement, although instead of negative LGBT coverage, there now is no LGBT coverage.

Make 2010 the year Dr. Phil tackles topics sensitive to the LGBT community in a fair, affirming, and positive way!

Sign the Twitter petition demanding positive coverage, and send the show a direct email.

Dr. Phil Begins Attempt at LGBT Inclusivity and Positive Coverage

Dr. Phil whom we have called out on numerous occasions for his continued shows featuring biphobic, homophobic, and transphobic titles, topics, and guests may finally be turning the tide. Our continued efforts at demanding positive LGBT coverage seem to be paying off.

According to GLAAD Dr. Phil has consulted with them on how to deal with the topic of bisexuality on his upcoming show "Relationship Surprises" in which guests discuss their sexuality. Guests on that show include a clinical social worker who sits on the board of the American Institute of Bisexuality, and HLN's Jane Velez who is a lesbian.

"You may think you know your loved ones, but could they be hiding a secret that would shock you? Jane Velez-Mitchell, host of HLN’s Issues with Jane Valez-Mitchell and author of the new book, iWant, opens up about her struggles with alcoholism and sexual identity. Learn how she came to terms with being a lesbian, how she revealed her sexuality on a radio show and how it affects her loved ones. And, Barbara, 39, knew she was gay at the age of 13, but ever since having a child via in vitro fertilization, she finds herself having doubts. What is behind her shift in sexuality? And, a mother of a teen claiming to be bisexual wants to know if it’s just a phase. Is she harming her daughter by not supporting her sexual identity?" (Dr Phil)

This is a giant leap in the right direction, and we will continue monitoring Dr. Phil's show closely.

In the mean time...

Send your comments to Dr. Phil praising him for trying to be LGBT inclusive.

Sign our twitter petition demanding more progressive coverage on queer issues.

Dr. Phil show
5482 Wilshire Boulevard #1902
Los Angeles, CA 90036

Dr. Phil's Show Continues to Pathologize Queer Identities

Dr. Phil has been on a crusade to pathologize gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people with shows about "gender confused children" "experimental bisexuality" and by giving a platform to so called experts on "ex-gay therapy" from Focus on the Family. His shows have been so controversial that he has even come under pressure and forced to cancel previous shows on bisexuality and trans children. What's concerning is that Dr. Phil has access to millions of Americans who follow his advice and subcribe to his point of view, rendering it particularly dangerous since his views on GLBT issues are wrong and immoral.

Here at Queers United we have been dedicated to monitoring Dr. Phil's programming and ensure that we hold him accountable for his actions. His upcoming shows continue to raise a red flag merely by their title and description alone and considering his past actions we do not expect any change.

One show called "Teen Experimenting With Bisexuality?" has this description:

"Did your teenager recently tell you he/she is bisexual? Maybe you caught them engaging in same sex activity? Are you torn with how to react?

Do you feel that what your teenager is doing is just a phase? Or maybe you feel like girls kissing girls is the new teenage fad? Do you feel strongly opinionated on the subject?"

This insinuates that bisexuality is not a psychologically sound or stable orientation. We would applaud a show on bisexuality, but not one that gives credence to the myths surrounding it.

Another show that is alarming is called "Struggling With Sexual Identity?"

Are you a woman struggling with sexual identity? Maybe it's causing problems with an addiction? Or maybe you feel you might be in denial about your sexuality?

Did you think you knew who you were but then something or someone opened your eyes to a new you?

It would be wrong to pre-judge or presume what the show will be about beforehand, but again there is serious concern given the track record of the show. Is Dr. Phil asserting that a GLBT identity may be related to addiction, or is he referring to sex addiction regardless of orientation? The shows title raises a red flag because proponents of "ex-gay therapy" often use the terms "struggling" and "sexual identity" to refer to GLBT people.

We urge other bloggers, and webmasters to join our Dr. Phil boycott and alert their readers to the homophobic, biphobic, and transphobic coverage that has been occurring for several months now.

Send your comments to Dr. Phil demanding he stop his anti-LGBT programming.

Sign our twitter petition demanding positive coverage now!

Dr. Phil show
5482 Wilshire Boulevard #1902
Los Angeles, CA 90036

Dr. Phil Petition to Stop The Misinformation!

220 of our followers on twitter have signed our petition to let Dr. Phil know that we demand he stop his homophobic and transphobic programming. We are not only seeking he stop his inflammatory segments on queer issues, we are also demanding positive and accurate coverage about our community.

Sign our twitter petition demanding positive coverage now!

Dr. Phil Agrees to Pull Transphobic Show

7/28/09: "Monday evening the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) heard back from the Dr. Phil Show producers. They told them they were pulling the show titled, “Gender Confused Kids” and instead reairing their other program on transgender children. That show, which originally aired in January, includes GLAAD's trained spokesperson, Dr. Michele Angello, an expert on transgender children" (GLAAD).

While it is great that we have been succesful at getting him to pull this show and his earlier biphobic show, there is still a lot of work to be done. We cannot rest until we are assured no more anti-LGBT programming will air and that there will be fair and positive coverage of our community. Queers United remains committed to holding Dr. Phil accountable on issues of sexuality and gender identity.

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7/26/09: Our campaign to get Dr. Phil to stop his anti gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender programming has been going on for several months. His shows continually promote topics such as "gender confusion", "rebellious bisexuals" and "discussion on ex-gay therapy".

Hundreds of people through this blog have joined in demanding Dr. Phil stop this anti-queer programming. Nonetheless this Wednesday July 29th another transphobic show is set to air titled "Gender-Confused Kids"

Dr. Phil tackles the sensitive topic of children who identify more with the opposite sex. What do you do if your son wants to wear dresses and play with dolls? Or if your daughter tells you she wants to be a boy? Should parents chock it up to be a phase that their children will grow out of, or should they intervene right away? Meet Melissa and Tim, whose 8-year-old son declared himself to be a girl when he was just 3 years old. Now, they allow their child to live as a girl and wonder if and when they should begin hormone therapy. Then, when Mary’s son was 8, he told her he felt like a girl, and Mary allowed him to experiment with dressing as a female. Now a teenager, her son is more comfortable living as a male -- but Mary wonders if she caused his confusion. Joining the discussion are experts with different points of view: Dr. Dan Siegel, professor and clinical psychiatrist at UCLA School of Medicine, and Glenn Stanton, author and research fellow with the organization Focus on the Family. Is gender identity something we’re born with, or is it influenced by parents and environment? Don’t miss this heated discussion. (Dr Phil).

Dr. Phil has some nerve to say this is a "sensitive topic", while continually referring to these children as "confused" and bringing anti-LGBT speakers such as Glen Stanton of the notorious hate group Focus on the Family. Another problem is that he mistakenly mixes up the terms "sex" and "gender."

Send your comments to Dr. Phil demanding he stop his anti-LGBT programming.

Sign our twitter petition demanding positive coverage now!

Dr. Phil show
5482 Wilshire Boulevard #1902
Los Angeles, CA 90036