GLAAD Invites Candace Cameron Bure to Conversation after Her Pledge to Exclude LGBTQ Couples on GAF Cable Network

GLAAD Invites Candace Cameron Bure to Conversation after Her Pledge to Exclude LGBTQ Couples on GAF Cable Network

GLAAD today responded after actress Candance Cameron Bure, Chief Creative Officer of the Great American Family network, told the Wall Street Journal: “I think that Great American Family will keep traditional marriage at the core.” when asked if the network would consider including LGBTQ couples as leads in holiday movies.

GLAAD’s President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis said:
“It’s irresponsible and hurtful for Candace Cameron Bure to use tradition as a guise for exclusion. I’d love to have a conversation with Bure about my wife, our kids, and our family’s traditions. Bure is out of sync with a growing majority of people of faith, including LGBTQ people of faith, who know that LGBTQ couples and families are deserving of love and visibility. As the company’s Chief Creative Officer, her statement is harmful and insulting to LGBTQ employees, as well as employees with LGBTQ friends and family. If GAF’s plan is to intentionally exclude stories about LGBTQ couples, then actors, advertisers, cable and streaming platforms, and production companies should take note and seriously consider whether they want to be associated with a network that holds exclusion as one of its values.”

Celebrities including singer JoJo Siwa responded to Bure’s comments today. Siwa, a former GLAAD 20 Under 20 honoree, called Bure’s remarks rude and hurtful.

GLAAD’s 2022 Where We Are on TV Report counted 637 LGBTQ characters on scripted television across broadcast, cable, and streaming services, a record high that included diverse genres including kids & family programming.

GLAAD is proud to work with several faith organizations that embrace and welcome LGBTQ people. Please visit GLAAD’s Guide to Covering Religion and Faith and any of the following organizations to learn more about their faithful support of LGBTQ people:

• Affirmation: LGBTQ Mormons Family & Friends

• Association of Welcoming & Affirming Baptists

• Beloved Arise (LGBTQ youth of faith)

• Brethren Mennonite Council for LGBT Interests

• Center for LGBTQ & Gender Studies in Religion

• Dignity USA (Roman Catholic)

• Disciples LGBTQ+ Alliance

• The Evangelical Network

• Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries (https://elm.org/)

• The Faith and Progressive Policy Initiative at the Center for American Progress

• The Fellowship of Affirming Ministries (African American Christian)

• Institute for Welcoming Resources

• Integrity USA (Episcopal)

• Interfaith Alliance

• Jewish Queer Youth

• Keshet (Jewish)

• Metropolitan Community Church

• More Light Presbyterians

• Muslims for Progressive Values

• Many Voices: A Black Church Movement for Gay & Transgender Justice

• The Naming Project (Christian youth)

• Network on Religion & Justice for Asian and Pacific Islander LGBT People

• New Ways Ministry (Catholic)

• Open and Affirming Coalition of the United Church of Christ

• Q Christian Fellowship

• Queer Sikh Network

• Reconciling Ministries Network (United Methodist)

• ReconcilingWorks: Lutherans for Full Participation

• The Reformation Project (Christian)

• Room for All (Reformed Church in America)

• Seventh-day Adventist Kinship International

• Unitarian Universalist Association

• Welcoming Community Network (Community of Christ)