Coachella Owner Donates To LGBTQ Hate Groups, Denies Climate Change

Following the announcement of Coachella 2017's lineup (and its immediate selling out) has come the news that the owner of the festival actively funds both anti-LGBTQ groups and climate change denial strategy.

The reports initially came in from Afropunk and Teen Vogue, which discussed how Coachella owner Philip Anschutz has donated a combined $190,000 to Alliance Defending Freedom, the National Christian Foundation, and the Family Research Council, between 2010 and 2013. According to a report done by The Washington Post by people and organizations that are anti-LGBTQ, the Family Research Council is considered an "extremist group" by the Southern Poverty Law Center.

The money made from Coachella goes to AEG, which is also founded by Anschutz. Aside from also donating to anti-LGBTQ groups, Anschutz has also donated large amounts of money to Republican candidates, giving over $1,000,000 to them during the 2016 election cycle.

Environmental organization Greenpeace has also spoken out against Anschutz, having accused him of funding a series of "climate science denial groups." The non-profit also states that Anschutz influences state politics by raising millions of dollars each year — a claim that has been supported by ProgressNow Colorado director Ian Silverii.

"Phil Anschutz's extensive influence in Colorado politics has been known for years, but the degree of his support for anti-LGBTQ groups that fund extremist hate groups like Gordon Kligenschmitt's 'Pray in Jesus Name' is shocking," Silverii wrote in a statement last year. "At a time in American history when discrimination and violence against LGBTQ citizens is on the rise, support for pro-discrimination groups puts Anschutz on the wrong side of Colorado, and on the wrong side of history."

Still, the most fascinating aspect of all this may very well be the artists involved. Many of the artists billed are those associated with liberal politics and affiliations. Were none of them aware of Anschutz, and if they were why tolerate performing at an event in which most of the profits end up in the pockets of a man who stands for what they are against?

At the very least, now attendees know for future reference.