The new reality show My Husband’s Not Gay has gay advocates upset. There are calls for TLC to pull the show before it even airs the first episode. In the reality show documents mrried family men who are sexually attracted to other men, and a change.org petition to pull the show has gathered more than 80,000 signatures. The network defends the show, explaining that TLC explores a wide range of lifestyles and that all of the people on the show want to tell their story. GLAAD, a well known gay rights group, says that the wrong message is sent and that the show is a sad reminder that emotional scars result from the controversial gay conversion therapy. In 2013 two states, California and New Jersey, banned this type of therapy on minors.
There are many organizations who support the gay advocates about the reality show My Husband’s Not Gay. Neither the American Psychological Association nor the American Medical Association support gay conversion therapy. According to Sarah Kate Ellis, who is the president of GLAAD, “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.” 2 of the stories on the reality show follow men of the Mormon faith. Eric Hawkins, the spokesman for the church, said “While the church does not promote marriage as a treatment method for same-sex attraction, couples who are trying to be lovingly supportive of each other while being true to their religious convictions deserve our support and respect.”
