When reached by BuzzFeed News on Friday, the billboard advertising companies — Reagan Outdoor Advertising and YESCO — said they rejected the proposed ads because of the sensitive nature of issues around religion and LGBT rights.

Dewey Reagan, president and general manager of Reagan Outdoor Advertising, said rejecting the ads does not reflect the company's or any of its employees' position on the topic.

"It was a business decision based on structural realities of our business," Reagan said. "We don't actually own the majority of the land underneath the signs where our billboards are located. They are there pursuant to land lease agreements and some of those specifically prohibit display of ad copy that is controversial."

Instead of potentially angering landlords, the company made the decision to say "no thanks" to the "God Loves Gays" ads, he said. When asked by BuzzFeed News, Reagan explained that the company welcomes LGBT diversity and emphasized it is an equal opportunity employer.

And YESCO — or Young Electric Sign Company — issued a written statement via email regarding its decision to not carry the ads:

"As a privately owned company, YESCO carefully evaluates all requests for advertising placement. We avoid accepting advertisements that are interpreted as advancing sensitive religious, social, or political interests."