Appeal to Discontinue Child Endangerment and Character Assassination on GH

We are appealing to those in charge of General Hospital and Daytime Television at ABC-Disney to stop the continued practice of pairing women who endanger children with the top male characters and thereby creating a sense of acceptance for this behavior. The mainstreaming of cruelty to children is reprehensible and thinking that, as fans, we would accept that two of the leading males on the show would simply accept and forgive the women who committed these crimes is rude and insolent.

Over half of the television viewing audience is female and many of us that watch Daytime Television are within the age range of 18-49. Not only are we identified as the key demographic but we are also women who are in college, the workforce, single, married and/or mothers. As such, we find it unacceptable that General Hospital continually uses the endangerment or death of a child as a catalyst for a storyline. Likewise, it is maddening when women who kidnap children, watch children get kidnapped, knowingly put them in danger, and/or hide their contribution in a child's death or permanent mental or physical disability are paired with the strongest male characters on the show, specifically and currently Jason Morgan and Sonny Corinthos. As long time fans of the show, we will never accept that characters such as these would become involved with women who would purposely endanger and knowingly hide their involvement in the endangerment of a child for any reason. While we understand that it is a Soap Opera and characters are reinvented or given opportunities to reform, there are certain behaviors that can not be whitewashed or simply forgiven.

There are also characters that are steadfastly consistent in their behaviors and beliefs. Jason Morgan and Sonny Corinthos are two such characters. They have always stood for protecting family and children almost at all costs. To have either of these characters become involved with women such as Samantha McCall and Claudia Zacchara who imperiled their children is ridiculous and reprehensible.

By signing this petition, we respectfully ask those in charge of General Hospital, as well as ABC Daytime Television, to stop promoting storylines that encourage the perception that cruelty to children is in any way without lasting consequences and is in any way accepted by the parent of the child who was put in jeopardy.