Amber Briggle wants to introduce you to a family with a transgender kid—her family. The Texas mom speaks about her family, including her transgender teenaged son, Max, in GLAAD’s new PSA videos, which got a sneak preview showing at the 33rd Annual GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles Saturday.
“I want parents everywhere to know that my child is no different than any other,” said Amber from the GLAAD Media Awards stage after she was introduced by transgender stars Nicole Maines and Jazz Jennings. In an emotional speech, Briggle offered a directive for the entertainment industry leaders in the audience: “When you’re making TV shows and movies and writing stories on the news, I am begging you: Humanize and normalize families with trans kids and trans people of every age and background.”
GLAAD is working to secure donated airtime for the PSAs and has announced that Comcast NBCUniversal, Paramount, WarnerMedia, and The Walt Disney Company will run versions (60 second version below, as well 30 second version, and a 10 second version) of the PSA nationwide.
Briggle also spoke about Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and his wife, Angela, accepting an invitation for dinner at her home in 2016: “We invited Attorney General Ken Paxton and his wife Angela to our home for dinner a couple of years back just so they could meet a transgender child and see how much we love our kids… But a few weeks ago they sent Child Protective Services to our home to sit at that same table and question us. I was sure they were going to take my kids away, and I have never been more terrified… While a court has barred Texas from investigating parents of trans kids, who knows if that temporary ban will be lifted or what the next political attack will be.”
“Now more than ever, it is critical that stories about LGBTQ people and our families are told,” said GLAAD CEO & President Sarah Kate Ellis. “The story of the Briggle family in Texas is the story of so many families across the country. It’s a story that resonates with me as a mom: a story about loving and supporting your children, even in the midst of unthinkable, unprecedented attacks on our children. Today, as a mom, I call on all moms out there: love and support all kids, including LGBTQ kids. They need us, and we have the power to make change.”
Ellis and Briggle appeared on MSNBC’s Halle Jackson Reports to discuss anti-transgender legislation and the message of the new PSA, that, as Briggle says, “Our families are just like yours.”
“The more people who are brave enough like Amber to tell their stories, the more we can engage Hollywood to have stories about our families and who we are. The more that people will understand.” @sarahkateellis on @HallieOnMSNBC with @mrsbriggle talking attacks against trans kids pic.twitter.com/J0t0UcaDZf
— GLAAD (@glaad) April 5, 2022
The PSA directs viewers to the new site Equality-Now.org, which features information on LGBTQ youth and calls on visitors to show public support for them. The site is owned and managed by GLAAD, with support from partners at the Equality Federation Institute, the Freedom for All Americans Education Fund, the National Center for Transgender Equality, and the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund.
Outgoing Warner Media CEO Jason Kilar spoke on CNBC about the business implications of Florida’s new law and the responsibility of media companies to recognize that “anti-LGBTQ legislation is anti-business.” The message was shared by Texas Competes, Freedom for All Americans, National Center for Lesbian Rights, and others.
Outgoing @warnermedia CEO @Jasonkilar on @CNBC: “Anti-LGBTQ legislation is anti-business” This is the message we need other business leaders to echo. Thank you Jason for your leadership and allyship. pic.twitter.com/yQ1CMj0N2a
— Sarah Kate Ellis (@sarahkateellis) April 5, 2022
More than 225 anti-LGBTQ bills have been filed in the first three months of 2022. 65% of those bills were focused on transgender people, mostly transgender youth. These laws would negatively impact access to medical care for transgender people, LGBTQ discussions in classrooms, social and family services, and student sports, among other issues.
The PSA was created as part of GLAAD’s efforts to spread humanizing stories about LGBTQ young people and their families. The video premieres at a time when a growing number of states across the country are proposing and passing bills that could cause harm to LGBTQ youth, including a February 2022 Texas directive which calls for investigations into parents of transgender. In late March 2022, a Texas appeals court reinstated a temporary injunction ensuring families seeking gender-affirming care for their trans children cannot be investigated by state authorities. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton responded by asking the Texas Supreme Court to block the lower court’s order.
View and share the heartwarming PSA at Equality-Now.org.
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About GLAAD: GLAAD rewrites the script for LGBTQ acceptance. As a dynamic media force, GLAAD tackles tough issues to shape the narrative and provoke dialogue that leads to cultural change. GLAAD protects all that has been accomplished and creates a world where everyone can live the life they love. For more information, please visit www.glaad.org or connect with GLAAD on Facebook and Twitter.