FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

March 07, 2023

MEDIA CONTACT: 

e: brian.phillips@mail.house.gov

c: 202.913.0126

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09) joined with Reps. Barragán (CA-44) and Grace Meng (NY-06) to introduce a resolution to designate September as “National Leading Entertainment and Arts through Diversity Month” or “National LEAD Month,” to underscore the immediate need for more representation of women and underrepresented communities in entertainment and recognize the importance of allyship.

The members partnered with STARZ, a leading global streaming platform, in conjunction with the organization’s #TakeTheLead initiative. Too often, marginalized communities and their distinctive perspectives and lived experiences are erased from the media spaces crucial for representation, effectively depriving them of the power of representation. This resolution serves to enable underrepresented communities to take the lead within the entertainment industry by shining a light on the disparities depriving them of opportunities in multimedia spaces.

“We’ve made great strides in ensuring the visibility of women and communities of color in the entertainment industry and related spaces – however, it’s no secret that much work remains on the road ahead,” said Congresswoman Clarke, co-chair of the House Multicultural Media Caucus. “People cannot dream what they cannot see, which is why I am proud to sponsor this resolution to help advance diversity, equity, and inclusion, both on and off the screen. I look forward to fostering real dialogue and a national discourse in September on what needs to be done to ensure increased representation for all women and communities of color across America.”

“Representation matters. For far too long, Latino & other communities of color have been marginalized and left out – on screen and behind the camera. We need to fight for opportunities to increase representation at all levels of the entertainment industry,” said Congresswoman Barragán, Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. “I am proud to join Representatives Clarke and Meng in leading a resolution to establish September as National Leading Entertainment and Arts through Diversity Month, and to support solutions to address systemic barriers and diversify our entertainment industry.”

“Women and communities of color are too often left out of the spotlight when it comes to leading projects and participating in the different facets of our world-renowned entertainment industry,” said Congresswoman Grace Meng, First Vice Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus. “I am proud to join my colleagues from the Congressional Black Caucus and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus in reintroducing this resolution to promote underrepresented communities representation in the entertainment industry by designating September as a time to recognize and uplift diverse representation in media.”

The full text of the resolution is available here.

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