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AHF Blasts Disney-owned ABC Station for Censoring ‘Don’t Say Gay’ TV Ad

KABC-TV7 station rejects TV spot urging Disney to speak out against homophobic Florida legislation

LGBTQ+ advocates and supporters will again protest Disney in Burbank Tuesday, March 8 @ 8:30 a.m. and in caravans around Disney’s Orlando campus Tuesday, March 8 thru Friday, March 11 @ 9:00 a.m.

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AHF is blasting Disney-owned KABC-TV7, the local Los Angeles ABC network affiliate, for refusing to run a paid television ad produced by AHF that is sharply critical of the Walt Disney Company for not speaking out publicly against the hateful “Don’t Say Gay” legislation pending in Florida (FL’s HB1557 and SB1834).

AHF tried to purchase commercial time in Los Angeles on the Disney-owned KABC-TV7 network affiliate but was rejected due to ad content confronting the station’s parent company, Disney. AHF’s 30-second spot urges Disney leaders to speak out and fight back against discrimination by publicly opposing Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill, concluding in the ad “… because the happiest place in the world must have a place for every child.”

Last Thursday, AHF spearheaded dual rallies with hundreds of activists in ORLANDO, FL and in BURBANK, CA, home of Disney’s worldwide corporate headquarters, urging the company to speak out in opposition to the bill. AHF's TV ad imploring the Walt Disney Company to speak out publicly and loudly to oppose the legislation is running on Orlando stations WOFL (FOX), WKMG (CBS), WESH (NBC) and WFTV (ABC).

“Shame on Disney's CEO Bob Chapek,” said AHF President Michael Weinstein. “You have lost any claim to corporate responsibility by abandoning your staff, your audience and the citizens of Florida to the ravages of hate. History will judge you very poorly.”

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the largest global AIDS organization, currently provides medical care and/or services to over 1.7 million clients in 45 countries worldwide in the US, Africa, Latin America/Caribbean, the Asia/Pacific Region and Europe. To learn more about AHF, please visit our website: www.aidshealth.org, find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/aidshealth and follow us on Twitter: @aidshealthcare and Instagram: @aidshealthcare

Contacts

Ged Kenslea, Senior Director, Communications, AHF +1.323.791.5526 [cell] +1.323.308.1833 [work] gedk@aidshealth.org
W. Imara Canady, National Direrctor, Communications & Community Engagement for AHF +.1.770.940.6555 [cell] imara.canady@ahf.org
John Hassell, National Director of Advocacy, AHF +1.202.774.4854 [cell] John.hassell@aidshealth.org

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Release Summary
AHF Blasts Disney-owned ABC Station for Censoring ‘Don’t Say Gay’ TV Ad
Release Versions
English

Contacts

Ged Kenslea, Senior Director, Communications, AHF +1.323.791.5526 [cell] +1.323.308.1833 [work] gedk@aidshealth.org
W. Imara Canady, National Direrctor, Communications & Community Engagement for AHF +.1.770.940.6555 [cell] imara.canady@ahf.org
John Hassell, National Director of Advocacy, AHF +1.202.774.4854 [cell] John.hassell@aidshealth.org

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