SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) – A children’s television show that includes Buster bunny’s trip to Vermont and a meeting with two lesbian couples won’t be on South Dakota Public Broadcasting.

Although SDPB won’t air the controversial episode, it issued a statement that said, “SDPB does not shy away from addressing sensitive issues.”

After Education Secretary Margaret Spellings complained that public dollars were being used to promote alternative lifestyles, PBS decided not to distribute the episode of “Postcards From Buster.”

So WGBH, the Boston public TV station that produced the show, said it is sending the episode to stations that ask for it. So far, 45 of about 300 PBS stations across the country that could air the show had asked for the episode as of Wednesday afternoon.

“Postcards from Buster” is funded by a grant from the Department of Education’s Ready to Learn program.

On the show, Buster bunny travels around the country and records his adventures in places such as the Crazy Horse Monument in South Dakota.

In the “Sugartime” episode, Buster goes to Vermont to learn about maple sugaring and meets local families, including two lesbian couples.

South Dakota will not air the episode because of parents’ complaints, said Bob Bosse, SDPB director of television. The show targets 3- to 7-year-olds who are likely to be inquisitive, he said.

“Children are old enough to ask questions that may be raised by the episode,” Bosse said. “But they prefer to disclose the issue with their children at the time of their choosing.”

Bosse said about six people called the station, and only two said they thought the program promoted and taught diversity to children.