Title: Expressing support for the designation of September 2022 as "National Leading Entertainment and Arts through Diversity Month" or "National LEAD Month", and empowering underrepresented communities to take the lead within the entertainment industry.
Policy area: Arts, Culture, Religion

Summary:
This resolution expresses support for the designation of a National Leading Entertainment and Arts through Diversity Month to emphasize the importance of increased representation across the entertainment industry.

[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1138 Introduced in House (IH)]

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117th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1138

Expressing support for the designation of September 2022 as ``National 
Leading Entertainment and Arts through Diversity Month'' or ``National 
 LEAD Month'', and empowering underrepresented communities to take the 
                lead within the entertainment industry.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 24, 2022

   Ms. Clarke of New York (for herself, Ms. Meng, Ms. Barragan, Mr. 
 Jeffries, Ms. Chu, Mr. Nadler, Ms. Titus, Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney of 
  New York, Mr. Bishop of Georgia, Ms. Jacobs of California, and Ms. 
 Adams) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
                    Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Expressing support for the designation of September 2022 as ``National 
Leading Entertainment and Arts through Diversity Month'' or ``National 
 LEAD Month'', and empowering underrepresented communities to take the 
                lead within the entertainment industry.

Whereas there should be more minority representation on and off the screen, and 
        in main decision making roles that advance equity across industries;
Whereas marginalized communities are defined as communities who experience 
        discrimination and exclusion on the basis of race, gender, sexual 
        orientation or identity, age, and ability;
Whereas, oftentimes, these sectors are erased from conversations, yet their 
        distinctive perspectives and lived experiences become the basis for more 
        authentic storytelling;
Whereas women only make up roughly 20 percent of directors and 26 percent of 
        screenwriters;
Whereas all minority groups make up 25 percent of directors and 25 percent of 
        screenwriters;
Whereas White film directors are more than twice as likely as minority directors 
        to helm a film with a budget of $100,000,000 or more;
Whereas roughly 18 percent of films produced by major studios feature LGBT+ 
        stories;
Whereas women over 30 make up 29 percent of female characters and women over 40 
        make up 16 percent of female characters;
Whereas 12 percent of television series characters are disabled, and most 
        portrayals are negative;
Whereas it is critical to recognize the social and cultural impact of diversity 
        on television and the ramifications of underrepresentation;
Whereas the importance of allyship is essential to promote inclusion across the 
        entertainment industry as dominant groups have greater potential to help 
        uplift their minority counterparts;
Whereas allyship is defined as a lifelong process in which a member in a group 
        of privilege and power actively seeks to unlearn misconceptions of a 
        marginalized group in order to build relationships centered around 
        trust, consistency, and accountability;
Whereas allyship campaigns and programs are pivotal to the success of diversity 
        programs, and yet are currently undervalued in diversity, equity, and 
        inclusion training; and
Whereas adequate representation on television has been overlooked for far too 
        long, and, regardless of industry, we must remain dedicated to 
        inclusion: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) expresses support for the designation of ``National 
        Leading Entertainment and Arts through Diversity Month'';
            (2) supports the purposes and ideals of National Leading 
        Entertainment and Arts through Diversity Month, which 
        emphasizes the importance of increased representation across 
        the industry;
            (3) promotes efforts to increase allyship awareness 
        campaigns among individuals and organizations in the United 
        States, specifically within the entertainment industry;
            (4) champions diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, 
        including but not limited to, implicit-bias training, common 
        ground training, facilitated conversation, cultural 
        sensitivity, community engagement, and antioppression training 
        in the entertainment industry; and
            (5) encourages the people of the United States to observe 
        National Leading Entertainment and Arts through Diversity Month 
        with appropriate awareness programs and campaigns for 
        underrepresented communities in the entertainment industry.
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