According to a Fox News report on July 12, 2002, Joel Schneider, vice president and senior adviser to the Sesame Street Workshop told Reuters that talks are under way to introduce an HIV Muppet in the U.S. version of the show. PBS President Pat Mitchell had previously denied that an HIV-infected Muppet would be introduced on Sesame Street, but she has since back pedaled. She now says that this character might be introduced if the virus became a more serious problem for children in the U.S.
PBS is part of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which receives funding from the U.S. taxpayer. CPB received $350 million in 2002; it will receive $365 million in 2003. This accounts for 12% of its entire budget. Part of this money goes to PBS to subsidize its programming. PBS also receives funding from foundations and individuals.
The introduction of an HIV-infected Muppet on Sesame Street is problematic because HIV is spread primarily by homosexuals and bisexuals in the U.S. It is likely that an HIV-infected Muppet would be used to teach tolerance and acceptance of homosexuals to the preschool Sesame Street audience. In effect, this would be another propaganda tool to normalize homosexuality in our culture.