Great American Family Channel Apologizes for HIV Drug & Drag Race Ads
The Great American Family Network, which is positioning itself as a conservative Christian alternative to Hallmark, has apologized to a viewer who objected to a commercial for HIV medication on one of its programs.The cable channel is also getting heat for the airing of an ad for RuPaul’s Drag Race and is saying that was a local ad, like the one for the HIV med, and it has no control over local commercials.Actress Alexandra Billings, who is transgender and living with HIV, shared an Instagram post in which a viewer under the name straighttalkwithmj wrote, “Love the movies!
But have you removed the very non-family friendly aids drug ad with 2 men kissing?”Great American Family responded, “Unfortunately, we don’t have any control over local commercials, and we sincerely apologize.”Billings, tagging the cable channel, commented, “I have been living with HIV for over thirty years now.
I buried most of my friends in my twenties and I live with an illness that gets more and more difficult to manage and navigate with each passing year.
The stigma of this disease is alive and well, as long as there are humans who attempt to pass off misinformation, fear or ignorance as normal conversation and acceptable social behavior.”She pointed out the stigma suffered by people with HIV or AIDS, especially early in the epidemic, with funeral homes even afraid to handle the remains of those who died.“I’m not assigning blame,” she added. “And I’m not trying to suggest this is all of who you are.
