FCC Complaint Filed Against Spanish TV

A Federal Communications Commission complaint is being filed against a Spanish-language talk show for its use of offensive language, nudity, and attacks against LGBT people.

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) and the National Hispanic Media Coalition filed the joint complaint to the FCC in regards to the show José Luis Sin Censura, which airs twice a day during the week in 37 markets in the U.S. A six-month analysis of the program in 2010 shows blatant use of antigay slurs, verbal and physical attacks against gay people, and hypersexualized images of women.

A GLAAD-led protest against the show in 2005 prompted KFC, Chevrolet, and Nissan to pull advertising. GLAAD issued a call to action against it on June 2010 after multiple guests were attacked with homophobic slurs in Spanish. Nearly 1,000 people sent a petition to Lieberman Broadcasting, Inc., which produces the show.

GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios said in a statement released Monday that the show does not meet the standards of other Spanish-language programming that he says has become more inclusive and fair when portraying LGBT characters or situations.

"It is extremely disturbing to see a show like José Luis Sin Censura air this violent language with impunity and without any regard for the safety of our community," Barrios said. "At a time when LGBT youth and adults face harassment and violence, it is unacceptable for media to fuel such a climate of intolerance about our community."

According to GLAAD, the show airs on Estrella TV, which is owned by Liberman, and reaches about 70% of the nation’s Latino households and millions of Latinos nationwide.

The organizations released a (possibly NSFW) video compiling some of the offenses being called into question.