SAG-AFTRA confirmed its support for equity and inclusion of diversity and inclusion on Monday, after several large studios had declined their commitments in the light of the Trump government threats.
The National Council of the Actors’ Union A resolution accepted Suppose Dei is a ‘moral imperative’ and is also ‘crucial for the creative and economic vitality of our industry’.
In recent weeks, Disney has deleted his Reimagine Tomorrow Initiative, which emphasized stories from under -represented groups, while Warner Bros. Discovery, Amazon and Paramount have taken similar steps.
The movements come as the Trump government tries to eradicate the programs of Dei in both the federal government and the private sector. One of the first initiatives of the new chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, Brendan Carr, was an investigation into Dei at NBCuiversal and Comcast.
In his statement, SAG-AFTRA noted that his support for diversity extended until 1963, when his predecessor Union, the Screen actor’s guild, received non-discrimination language in his contract. That provision, the ‘American Scene’ clause, obliges producers to ‘make every effort to cast artists who belong to all groups of all types of roles’.
The diversity provisions have since been considerably expanded. One of the issues in the most recent negotiation was a provision to offer a suitable hair and makeup consultation for non-white artists.
The resolution that is adopted during the board meeting on Saturday confirms the ‘relentless dedication of the trade union to equal opportunities, diversity, fairness, inclusion and accessibility as fundamental for the mission of our trade union and the future of our industry’.
The resolution also states that the trade union “will continue to collaborate with stakeholders in the industry, interest groups and policy makers to promote meaningful, measurable and enforceable progress in creating a more inclusive industry, both on the screen and behind the scenes.”