PBS Promotes Gay-Themed Story Books For Toddlers
Conservatives are blasting PBS and “Reading Rainbow” after social media posts promoted Pride month and LGBTQ-themed children’s books.
“Reading Rainbow,” the Emmy-winning children’s program long associated with PBS and hosted for decades by LeVar Burton, recently returned to public attention with a PBS Retro marathon. But instead of nostalgia, some parents and conservatives say they are seeing another example of children’s programming being dragged into the culture wars.
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The controversy erupted after the “Reading Rainbow” social media account promoted Pride month, recognizing and celebrating “LGBTQ+ voices and experiences” through literature. Critics said the post crossed a line by using a brand trusted by generations of parents to introduce children to sexual identity politics.
Libs of TikTok posted on X: “PBS has a children’s program called ‘Reading Rainbow’ That program made a social media post promoting Pride Month and celebrating lgbtq …” The account later added: “They’re teaching kids to become left-wing activists.”
Conservative commentator Max Ekpunobi also weighed in, writing: “I’m pretty sure Reading Rainbow never had pride month segments back in the day. Unfortunately PBS got hijacked a few years ago…”
For many outraged parents, the issue is not whether adults should be treated with dignity. It is whether taxpayer-backed children’s media should be steering young viewers into controversial debates about sexuality, gender identity and Pride Month.
Christian parents say shows like “Reading Rainbow,” “Sesame Street” and “Arthur” were once viewed as safe, wholesome programming — the sort of television families could turn on without worrying about political or sexual messaging. Now, critics argue, PBS is testing the patience of parents who believe those conversations belong at home, not in programming aimed at children.
The backlash comes amid renewed scrutiny of public broadcasting and whether American taxpayers should be forced to fund content that many families believe undermines their values.
Supporters of PBS argue the Pride-themed book promotions are about inclusion and representation. But conservatives say the network has confused inclusion with indoctrination — and that children should be learning phonics, fairy tales and the joy of reading, not being used as foot soldiers in the culture war.
“A lot of parents grew up during an age when ‘Reading Rainbow’ was heterosexual,” said conservative leader Todd Starnes. “That was back when ‘Rub a Dub Dub Three Men in a Tub’ was nursery rhyme and not toddler’s introduction to the world of throple relationships.”
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