Local radio stations run hateful anti-trans ad from far-right group

By Jordana Rosenfeld

At least six local radio stations ran paid ads this weekend what local human rights activists called them hateful and transphobic.

Advertising that is according to reports shown in some cases with a disclaimer that does not reflect the station’s views, repeats familiar right-wing messages about medical care for gender-affirming trans children, falsely claiming that Joe Biden and the “New Left” are forcing children to transition against their will.

The ad says it’s paid for America First Legal Foundation an organization that bills itself as the conservative answer to the ACLU, founded last year by former Trump adviser Stephen Miller.

In accordance with local LGBTQ activist Sue Kerr the ad ran on several local radio stations, including “WDVE 102.5, WAMO 107.3, WISH 99.7, WKST 96.1, WLTJ 92.9 and WDSY 108.”

Pittsburgh-based LGBTQ online publisher QBurgh calls it “the most hateful and intentionally hurtful ad to hit the Pittsburgh media market in years.” Kerr says she heard from the parents of a trans child who was unexpectedly confronted with a hateful ad while listening to 92.9 in the car.

While iHeartMedia, Audacy and Steel City Media, owners of the radio stations listed above, did not respond to requests for comment by press time, at least one local station has stopped airing the ad.

Tall Katy from 96.1 KISS tweeted in response to criticism from listeners that 96.1 no longer airs commercials. She did not say what prompted the station to make the decision and did not yet respond to a request for comment, but Mikey and Bob of the popular KISS morning show publicly responded to QBurgh’s Instagram post about the anti-transgender ad, saying several on-air personalities on their the radio station called for the ad to be removed.

“As soon as all of us on the air at the station heard it was working, we did everything in our power to get them off the air regardless of the consequences of our actions,” Mikey wrote. “I personally want NO part in spreading harmful messages of hate against any group of people.”

Advertising on the radio according to reports According to QBurgh, it only started working locally in the last few days, but it has also gone live beginning of last week in Tennessee. Board members of Miller’s America First Legal Foundation have also been linked to racist and transphobic ads in Massachusetts, Colorado, Arizona, Nevada, California, Michigan, Texas, Illinois and Georgia. OpenSecrets reporting.

We will continue to update this story with responses received from stations. Reposted from Pittsburgh City Paper. 

https://www.pghcitypaper.com/pittsburgh/local-radio-stations-run-hateful-anti-trans-ad-from-far-right-group/Content?oid=22624082