STARZ, a leading global streaming platform, is leading the call-to-action with lawmakers in Washington, D.C., to establish September as National Leading Entertainment and Arts through Diversity (LEAD) Month. Introduced by U.S. Reps. Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08, ), Nanette Barragán (CA-44), Judy Chu (NY-32), and Grace Meng (NY-06), the resolution underscores the immediate need for more representation of women and underrepresented communities in entertainment and recognizes the importance of allyship.

STARZ President and CEO Jeffrey Hirsch discussed the legislation during STARZ’s inaugural #TakeTheLead Summit on May 19.

“At STARZ, we remain deeply committed to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion with premium content by, about and for women and underrepresented audiences. We believe in giving creators a platform to use their own voices to tell their own stories to choose how the world sees them,” said Hirsch. “The National LEAD Month recognizes the importance of improving representation in front and behind the screen, and throughout organizations, in hopes to inspire others to do the same. We are proud to work alongside Representatives Clarke, Meng, Barragán and Jeffries to amplify this issue in Washington, and to help drive conversations that will keep advancing us culturally.”

Last year, STARZ launched its #TakeTheLead initiative, a comprehensive effort deepening the company’s existing commitment to narratives by, about and for women and underrepresented audiences. At the Summit, actors, journalists, business leaders and DEI advocates discussed the need for stronger representation on and off the screen.

Panelists, including Simone Biles (U.S. Olympic Gold Medalist), Joshua Jackson (“When They See Us,” “Dr. Death”), Frances Fisher (Titanic, “The Sinner”), Cliff “Method Man” Smith (“Power Book II: Ghost”) Lauren Ridloff (Eternals, “The Walking Dead”), Tanya Saracho (“Lovesong,” “Vida”) and Nicco Annan (“P-Valley”), among others, shared their own personal stories of barriers and challenges they’ve faced and “signed on” to the resolution that will advance equity across industries.

“While strides have been made to increase the visibility of women and communities of color in the entertainment industry, specifically – film, streaming, and TV, it is becoming increasingly evident that there is still much work to be done,” said Congresswoman Clarke, co-chair of the House Multicultural Media Caucus. “People cannot dream what they cannot see and a lack of representation can have grave impacts on our young women and future. I am proud to be a LEAD sponsor of 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 our women and communities of color.”

“As the producers of the content and imagery that our nation experiences, entertainment companies have a moral obligation to ensure that their product reflects our society,” House Democratic Caucus Chair Hakeem Jeffries said. “This bill calls on these companies to make diversity and inclusion a priority, encourages stakeholders from across all industries to support and further these efforts and promotes the importance of representation and telling diverse stories. I am proud to join Reps. Clarke, Chu, Meng and Barragán in cosponsoring this important resolution”

“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,” Congresswoman Barragán said. “I am proud to join Representatives Clarke, Chu and Meng 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.”

“In the entertainment industry, women and people of color only make up between 20 and 26 percent of all film directors and screenwriters,” said Congresswoman Chu, co-chair of the House Multicultural Media Caucus. “Additionally, white directors, when compared with directors of color, are more than two times as likely to head a film with a budget of or exceeding $100 million. This lack of representation too often erases diverse perspectives and lived experiences from our screens – and, as we continue to combat the alarming rise in hate and bigotry nationwide, ensuring diversity in the media becomes even more critical. This is why I am proud to join my colleagues in introducing this resolution, so we take another step forward in recognizing and empowering underrepresented communities across all spectrums of the entertainment industry.”

“As First Vice Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, I am committed to raising awareness around the continuous contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and recognizing equity and parity for our communities across industries,” Congresswoman Meng said. “That’s why I am happy to join my colleagues on this bill. The LEAD bill is key to our efforts as we call on the nation to increase representation for underrepresented communities – including Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders – in film and TV and provide more opportunities for AAPI creators to break into and be successful in the entertainment industry.”

STARZ commissioned an inclusion study in partnership with The UCLA Center for Scholars & Storytellers, which confirmed the media company is significantly above industry averages in several categories including:

• 63.2% of series leads on STARZ Original Series are people of color and 57.9% are women
• 60.4% of series regular roles on STARZ Original Series are portrayed by people of color and 27.8% are portrayed by women of color
• 54.6% of showrunners at Starz are women and 45.5% are people of color
• 47.1% of executive producers are people of color and 41.2% are women
• 29.1% of writers are women of color
• 49.3% of directors are people of color and 43.7% are women

Last year, STARZ launched its series of “Transparency Talks” to bring relevant conversations to the forefront with organizations and thought leaders from industry powerhouses who have committed to partner with STARZ to take collective actions towards improving inclusion. STARZ has hosted “Talks” with Members of Congress, including U.S. Reps. Barbara Lee and Julian Castro, as well as the U.S. Department of Commerce to discuss the racial wealth gaps and how that translates to the entertainment industry.

Co-sponsors for National Leading Entertainment and Arts through Diversity (LEAD) Month are: Reps. Hakeem Jeffries, Judy Chu, Jerry Nadler, Sanford Bishop (GA-02), Dina Titus (NV-01), Carolyn Maloney (NY-12), Sara Jacobs (CA-53), Alma Adams (NC-12).

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