PFLAG National Statement on the "R" Rating for BULLY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 7, 2012
Liz Owen | lowen@pflag.org | (202) 467-8180 x214

WASHINGTON, DC— Jody M. Huckaby, Executive Director of PFLAG National (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays)—the nation's original ally organization, and the largest grassroots-based non-profit for families, friends, and allies of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people—has issued the following statement regarding the MPAA decision to issue an "R" rating to the new documentary BULLY:

 

"We are surprised and saddened by the “R” rating the MPAA has given to the film BULLY. Our members—over 200,000 parents, families, friends, and allies to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community and LGBT people themselves—overwhelmingly support the need for this film to be seen by a wide array of audiences, in small towns and large cities, and by people of all ages. It is ironic that a movie about judgment and bullying is being judged and similarly bullied due to the use of one word, with what seems to be complete disregard for the contents of the film itself. We hope that the MPAA will consider joining PFLAG National and other supporters of the film BULLY here in the 21^st century, where the use of an expletive pales in comparison to the need for creating a safe school environment for all of our nation’s youth."