Paramount Global, the media giant that also owns CBS, has recently made headlines for rejecting a controversial ad by CatholicVote. The ad, aimed at exposing the reality of taxpayer-funded transgender surgeries for minors, highlights sensitive topics surrounding gender-affirming care and questions the role of taxpayer money in funding these procedures. Paramount’s decision to block the advertisement has sparked accusations of media bias and censorship.
The ad in question, submitted by CatholicVote, brings attention to a set of transgender surgeries performed on minors, surgeries that were reportedly funded by taxpayer dollars through programs like Medicaid. It details the irreversible nature of these procedures and raises concerns about their long-term effects on children. According to the ad, these surgeries include breast removals, hysterectomies, and genital surgeries designed to align a child’s body with their identified gender. CatholicVote’s position is clear: these medical interventions, particularly when performed on minors, should not be supported by public funds.
The rejection was revealed in emails obtained by the Daily Caller News Foundation (DCNF), in which a Paramount advertising executive stated, “Paramount S&P has declined the spot submitted yesterday.” CatholicVote president Brian Burch expressed outrage at the decision, suggesting that Paramount and CBS were avoiding an important public conversation about these medical procedures.
“Taxpayers, especially parents, deserve to know that they are paying for devastating and permanent surgeries that destroy the healthy body parts of children,” Burch told the DCNF. He further accused CBS and Paramount of actively promoting transgenderism while suppressing any discourse that challenges it. Burch emphasized that the issue isn’t just political; it’s about protecting children and informing parents about what is happening in the healthcare system.
In the ad, CatholicVote shares alarming statistics:
- 97 underage girls reportedly had double mastectomies.
- 14 underage girls underwent hysterectomies.
- Boys underwent genital surgeries designed to transition them into females, including penis amputations.
The message concludes by naming Vice President Kamala Harris as a supporter of these taxpayer-funded medical interventions, framing her backing of these policies as a significant concern for families. CatholicVote’s ad states, “A vote for Harris, a vote for medical experiments on kids,” painting a stark picture of the political implications behind these policies.
The rejection of the ad has raised broader questions about the role of legacy media in shaping public discourse, particularly on issues like transgender rights and medical care. CatholicVote has accused Paramount of protecting Democratic politicians, such as Harris, from scrutiny over their stance on these surgeries. “Either CBS is covering for Kamala Harris, or they are too scared to tell the truth about what’s happening,” Burch told the DCNF, framing the issue as not only a matter of media censorship but also one of political bias.
This is not the first time Paramount or CBS has been called out for their stance on transgender issues. According to Burch, the networks have been “aggressive in pushing transgenderism in mass media,” promoting messages of acceptance and support for transgender individuals while allegedly ignoring or downplaying the potential harms associated with certain medical treatments. CatholicVote’s ad attempted to bring these concerns to light, but its rejection underscores the media’s power in controlling which narratives get heard and which do not.
The rejection has sparked a broader conversation among critics of legacy media, who argue that platforms like CBS have become mouthpieces for progressive causes, effectively silencing dissenting voices. Paramount’s refusal to air the ad, in their view, reflects a broader pattern of media companies gatekeeping public discourse on sensitive or controversial issues.
Supporters of gender-affirming care argue that these surgeries and medical treatments are life-saving for many transgender individuals, helping to alleviate gender dysphoria and allowing young people to live more authentically. They assert that the decision to undergo such procedures should be left to individuals, families, and medical professionals, rather than being politicized or sensationalized.
The issue of taxpayer funding, however, complicates the debate. Many Americans are uncomfortable with the idea of public funds being used for what they see as experimental or non-essential surgeries on minors, particularly when the long-term effects of these treatments are still being studied. This discomfort has fueled political battles across the country, with several states passing or attempting to pass legislation to restrict or ban gender-affirming care for minors.
Paramount’s decision to reject the CatholicVote ad has now placed the media company at the center of this debate. The company’s actions raise questions about the role of media conglomerates in determining what kinds of political and social conversations are allowed in public forums. Paramount and CBS, by refusing to air the ad, have become the target of criticism from those who believe the public has a right to know how their tax dollars are being spent, especially when it comes to such a deeply personal and controversial issue.
For now, the conversation surrounding taxpayer-funded transgender surgeries continues, both in the political arena and in the media. Whether Paramount’s rejection of the CatholicVote ad was a business decision, a political one, or simply an editorial choice remains a subject of debate. What is clear, however, is that the ad’s message—focused on taxpayer involvement in gender-affirming care—has struck a nerve and is likely to remain a contentious issue in the months leading up to the next election cycle.
