Sponsors Pull Ads In Response To KRXQ Sacramento Radio Hosts Encouraging Abuse Against Transgender Children

June 6, 2009

Eight companies have pulled advertising from a Sacramento, Calif., radio station after the hosts of a morning talk show encouraged violence against transgender kids.

So far, Bank of America, Verizon, Carl's Jr., Snapple, Chipotle, and Sonic have all pulled their advertisements from KRXQ, according to the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. Wells Fargo bank said that it did not advertise with the station during the March 28 broadcast, but will not commit to any more purchases. Nissan also said that they will not renew their contract with the station, which ended June 1.

Rob Williams and Arnie States, two of the hosts of Rob, Arnie & Dawn in the Morning, were discussing the parents of a boy in Omaha who wants to transition from male to female. Rob called the boy "a weird person who is demanding attention." He suggested that his mother tell the boy that wearing a dress is "not what we're doing in this culture." He also called transgender people "freaks," asserting that therapy could steer them away from being transgender, since "they were [probably] molested" as children.

States also said that if his son put on a pair of high heels, he would probably hit him with one of his shoes.

"You got a boy saying, 'I wanna wear dresses,'" States said, "I'm going to look at him and go, 'You know what? You're a little idiot! You little dumb ass! Look, you are a boy! Boys don't wear dresses.'"

Meanwhile, Dawn Rossi defended the kids during the segment, and constantly apologized on air for her cohosts' remarks.

After GLAAD put out a call to action on June 2, several individuals found a list of advertisers and contacted them directly, requesting that they pull their ads from the station. The next day, the morning show hosts spoke about transgender issues for the duration of the show, but Rich Ferraro of GLAAD said on Friday evening that the organization was still waiting to hear an apology from Williams and States.

While the show is produced and broadcast at the Sacramento station, it is also syndicated in Reno, Nev.