Coachella owner denies anti-LGBT allegationsPhilip Anschutz 678168n

Coachella owner denies anti-LGBT allegations

The head of Coachella parent company AEG, Philip Anschutz, has come under fire for reportedly making donations to anti-LGBT groups through his personal foundation, a claim he fiercely denies.

Allegations first surfaced this morning in a Washington Post opinion piece, which claims to out the “enemies of equality” in an interactive infographic.  The graphic illustrates a sprawling anti-LGBT conspiracy and a web of alleged donations. Among other high profile politicians and executives, the report claims that the Anschutz Foundation made donations to anti-LGBT and anti-abortion rights groups like the Family Research Council and the National Christian Foundation.

In his role as AEG boss, Anschutz oversees a number of organizations including concert promotion group Goldenvoice which backs festivals like Coachella, FYF, and others. Organizations like Greenpeace have already spoken out against the festival with some groups already calling for boycotts of the popular events.

Anschutz has made quick work of refuting the allegations, issuing a brief statement only hours after the story appeared online.

“Recent claims published in the media that I am anti-LGBTQ are nothing more than fake news—it is all garbage,” said Anschutz. ” I unequivocally support the rights of all people without regard to sexual orientation. We are fortunate to employ a wealth of diverse individuals throughout our family of companies, all of whom are important to us—the only criteria on which they are judged is the quality of their job performance; we do not tolerate discrimination in any form.”

“When it has come to my attention or the attention of The Anschutz Foundation that certain organizations either the Foundation or I have funded have been supporting such causes,” added Anschutz, “we have immediately ceased all contributions to such groups.”

H/T: Resident Advisor 

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