Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt defends defunding PBS station over LGBTQ content material

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt has defended his choice to defund the state’s PBS station over claims the taxpayer-funded outlet has been indoctrinating and over-sexualizing younger kids with its LGBTQ content material.

The Republican doubled down on Monday after he vetoed a bill late last month that may have continued funding for the statewide PBS station, Oklahoma Instructional Tv Authority (OETA), by way of 2026.

“OETA, to us, is an outdated system. You realize, the large, massive query is why are we spending taxpayer {dollars} to prop up or compete with the personal sector and run tv stations?” he advised Fox News.

“After which if you undergo the entire programming that’s occurring and the indoctrination and over-sexualization of our kids, it’s simply actually problematic, and it doesn’t line up with Oklahoma values.”

The station broadcasts in style kids reveals, together with “Sesame Avenue” and “Clifford The Large Crimson Canine”, which have began incorporating LGBTQ themes — like homosexual characters — lately.

Stitt’s workplace additionally argued that OETA has aired questionable content material, together with a “Let’s Study” section that includes a drag queen called Lil Miss Hot Mess studying a e-book titled “The Hips on the Drag Queen Go Swish, Swish, Swish.”

Along with his claims of indoctrination, the governor additionally argued the applications weren’t instructional.

“When you consider educating children, let’s educate them to learn and their numbers and counting and letters and people type of issues,” Stitt stated. “I imply, a number of the programing that we’re seeing… it simply doesn’t have to be on public tv.”

He added that the taxpayer {dollars} used to fund OETA might be put to higher use elsewhere — and that if the applications have been that in style, they might be picked up by the likes of CBS, NBC, ABC.

“Oklahoma taxpayers are going, ‘Hey, dangle on, day out for only a second. That’s not my values’,” Stitt stated. “I’m simply bored with utilizing taxpayer {dollars} for some individual’s agenda. I signify the taxpayers.”

“There’s a lot tv, there’s a lot media,” he continued. “Perhaps in 1957 you can have made an argument that you simply wanted a public tv station. That’s completely outdated at this level.”

Attributable to Stitt’s veto, OETA is ready to stop operations this 12 months — until the state legislature is ready to overrule him.

State Democratic Rep. Monroe Nichols was amongst these to lash out at Stitt’s transfer, accusing the governor of attempting to copy Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ battle with Disney.

“Make no mistake, the veto has nothing to do with what is nice for Oklahoma. It’s clear Governor Stitt noticed one other governor choose a struggle with Mickey Mouse so now he’s doing his greatest to maintain tempo by sticking it to Large Chicken,” Nichols stated in a press release.

“It’s unlucky, however this motion is a part of the governor’s continued assault on public training and underrepresented Oklahoma communities.

“I urge my colleagues to permit widespread sense to prevail, stand with Oklahomans and be a part of me in overturning this shortsighted, absurd veto.”

Stitt’s push to defund the statewide PBS station got here as he additionally signed a invoice banning intercourse reassignment procedures for minors in his state.