TLC Plans to Air Controversial Special My Husband's Not Gay Despite Criticism

Despite growing criticism of TLC’s My Husband’s Not Gay, the network has no plans to cancel the show.

The one-hour special set to premiere Sunday follows four Mormon men living in Salt Lake City, Utah who are happily married to women, but are also attracted to other men. They refer to it as SSA, Same Sex Attraction.

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But following the release of the TLC trailer, the show is already causing outrage.

Josh Sanders, 32, launched a Change.org petition on Dec. 29 to keep the special off the air and already has nearly 100,000 supporters.

“They are making a reckless choice to share a message that you can’t identify as both gay and religious,” Sands tells PEOPLE.

“They are turning my struggle and a lot of people’s struggles into late night entertainment.”

GLAAD also spoke out against the network’s decision to air the special.

“This show is downright irresponsible,” said GLAAD President & CEO Sarah Kate Ellis. “No one can change who they love, and, more importantly, no one should have to. By investing in this dangerous programming, TLC is putting countless young LGBT people in harm’s way.”

But one member of the Mormon Church doesn’t think the show is such a bad idea.

Ty Mansfield, 36, an adjunct professor at Brigham Young University who does not consider himself gay, but says he has had issues with “same sex attraction” loves the idea of the special.

“It’s a community of people that most people don’t understand because the popular narrative around sexuality doesn’t acknowledge it, other than the tragic stories. The show provides a window to show that people can thrive and live happy lives.”

Despite the controversy the network is standing by their programming.