Sunday, February 1, 2009

American Family Assocation Boycotting, But Says We Can't

The American Family Association, whose name let's you know it's a US organization, is still obsessing over what they call the homosexual agenda and are now targeting their homophobia at the UK and Pespi's ad that's playing only there.

UK Pepsi Ad:



The AFA is now organizing a boycott against Pepsi (and many other gay friendly companies - more on that below). This is the same organization closely tied to Protect Marriage.com, who led the Yes on 8 Campaign and gave them over half a million dollars to fight gay marriage in California.

What's extremely hypocritical is that the Protect Marriage people recently sued the state of California because of its campaign donor full disclosure law which makes it mandatory that donors' information for any campaign be made public. The reason why they sued? Because they said they were being harassed for their "support of traditional marriage," and by harassed they mainly meant that their businesses were being "boycotted." (Thankfully the state disregarded their complaint and said the LGBT had a right to boycott and was protected under free speech.) To put it simply, the AFA thinks it's swell for them to boycott, but that it's completely wrong for us to do so, going as far as suing a state to stop us. Didn't Jesus say something about hypocrisy? Mark 7:6 - “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.’”

The LGBT community must, at all costs, protect our allies from such hypocrisy. PepsiCo has been a staunch ally for LGBT people, donating $500,000 to the Human Rights Campaign and another $500,000 to Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG). After the AFA threatened to boycott them if they didn't stop supporting the LGBT, PepsiCo flatly told them, in other nicer words, to shut up.

To thank PepsiCo for its support, contact them at (914) 253-2000 or email. And be sure to keep buying their products.

Another company on the AFA's target list is Campbell's Soup. And why? Because the company issued a print ad for one of its soups portraying two mothers and their son. Even though they felt pressure of a boycott from the AFA, Campbell's refused to stop running the ad.

More...

To show your support of Campbell's Soup, contact them through their website.

Unfortunately, there are companies buckling under the AFA's scrutiny and scorn. One in particular is McDonalds. After joining the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, they received scorn for "supporting the gay agenda" and, naturally, the AFA boycotted. As a result, McDonald's Vice President Richard Ellis resigned from the NGLCC, appeasing the right-wing organization and ending the boycott.

This decision is in direction contradiction to the company's core values. Here's an excerpt:

McDonald's Values

We are committed to our people
We provide opportunity, nurture talent, develop leaders and reward achievement. We believe that a team of well-trained individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences, working together in an environment that fosters respect and drives high levels of engagement, is essential to our continued success.

We give back to our communities
We take seriously the responsibilities that come with being a leader. We help our customers build better communities, support Ronald McDonald House Charities, and leverage our size, scope and resources to help make the world a better place.

We strive continually to improve
We are a learning organization that aims to anticipate and respond to changing customer, employee and system needs through constant evolution and innovation.

McDonald's Employment Experience

Support for fundamental human rights for all people is part of our global Standards of Business Conduct. We comply with all employment laws in every market where we operate, and we will not employ underage children or forced laborers. We respect the right of employees to associate or not to associate with any group, as permitted by, and in accordance with, applicable laws and regulations.

Respect - Create a diverse and inclusive culture where everyone feels valued and respected.

Contact McDonalds and show your disapproval of their joining in on the hypocrisy. And until they change, don't buy any of their products. FYI: McDonald's no longer owns Chipotle Mexican Grill, having sold its shares in 2006.

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