A Change.org petition calling for TLC to cancel 19 Kids and Counting because of the Duggar family’s perceived anti-LGBT stance, is gaining support, earning over 20,000 signatures.
The petition was posted by Jim Wissick of San Jose, California, who asks TLC to “end LGBTQ fear mongering by the Duggars.” Specifically, Wissick targets Michelle Duggar’s support against an ordinance the Fayetteville, Arkansas City Council is considering that would prohibit businesses from firing someone based on sexual orientation or gender identity. As the Fayetteville Flyer noted last month, the Duggars donated $10,000 to the three City Council candidates who were the most outspoken opponents of the ordinance.
“Duggar words reek of ignroance [sic] and fear mongering,” Wissick wrote of the robocalls Michelle Duggar did for the candidates. “Just because someone is transgendered doesn't mean they are a child predator or a rapist. The claim that this ordinance would provide predators with access to women's restrooms in order to assault or leer at girls or women is nothing more than fear-mongering and spreading ignornace [sic] and hatred.”
The petition also comes just days after they reportedly deleted a photo of a same-sex couple kissing that was posted on their Facebook page.
Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar posted a photo of them kissing after their newlywed daughter Jessa and her husband did the same. They called for “all married couples to take a happily married picture and post it here.” However, when blogger John Becker posted a photo of him and his partner sharing a kiss, the photo was deleted, he claims.
The Duggars’ show first premiered on TLC in 2008 as 17 Kids and Counting, but the show was recently updated to reflect the fact that the main couple have had two more children.
Wissick’s petition currently has just over 23,000 signatures and he has a 100,000-signature goal.
TLC hasn’t commented on the petition, notes The Huffington Post.