Is there a Muppet with HIV/AIDS on Sesame Street?

In 2002, Sesame Workshop announced that an HIV-positive character would be introduced to the cast of Takalani Sesame, the South African co-production of Sesame Street.NYTimes This idea was considered crucial for the area where AIDS is an epidemic. The HIV-positive character, Kami, was designed to help promote tolerance and reduce the stigmas associated with HIV/AIDS. Kami is a furry yellow five-year-old Muppet who contracted the disease as the result of a tainted blood transfusion she received as an infant. Aside from appearing in the South African co-production, Kami also appears in Sesame Square, the Nigerian co-production of Sesame Street.
However media reports at that time of Kami's initial introduction gave many the impression that this character was proposed for the American version of the program. Some conservatives vigorously opposed the idea. The Traditional Values Coalition stated that:
The subject became a source of debate and attacks on several news shows, such as The O'Reilly Factor.The O'Reilly Factor Republican congressmen Billy Tauzin, Chip Pickering, Fred Upton, Joe Barton, Richard Burr and Cliff Stearns formally cautioned PBS against introducing HIV-affected Muppets to American audiences, reminding PBS that Congress could withhold funding if such a character was introduced.EW.comsiecus.org
Despite the erroneous reports that Sesame Street was planning to introduce an HIV-positive character to American viewers, Sesame Workshop never intended on launching such a character in the United States. Robert Knezevic, vice president of international co-productions for Sesame Workshop, stated that "categorically, there are no plans to put this Muppet on the American 'Sesame Street.' I think this story kind of ran away."People.com
==Sources==
==External links==
* BBC article speculates on possible HIV+ Sesame character in the USA
* HIV-Positive Muppet Another Homosexual Ploy, Group Says
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Category:Rumors