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News and commentary about the anti-gay lobby“Now you must raise your children up in a world where that union of man and box turtle is on the same legal footing as man and wife…”
News and commentary about the anti-gay lobbyJune 15th, 2012
I knew it would happen.
Last week, the National Organization for Marriage (but not yours) sent out a vaguely threatening letter to the 50 largest corporations in Minnesota demanding that they “stay neutral” on the upcoming vote to constitutionally ban their employees from being treated equally. And if there is one thing which is now pretty much guaranteed to generate corporate support for marriage equality, it’s telling them that they can’t.
Among the largest corporations headquarted in Minnesota are United Healthgroup, Target, Best Buy, Supervalu, 3M, U.S. Bancorp, Medtronic, and General Mills. So you know that it was going to be no time at all before someone on this list – if not all of them – said, “What’s that? Gay marriage? Oh, yeah, we support that.”
General Mills (makers of cheerios) was the first. (StarTrib)
Chief executive Ken Powell voiced the company’s opposition [to the anti-marriage amendment] Wednesday at a General Mills function attended by 400 gay and lesbian professionals, followed Thursday by a Web letter from the company’s vice president for global diversity and inclusion, Ken Charles.
“We do not believe the proposed constitutional amendment is in the best interests of our employees or our state economy,” Charles wrote. “We value diversity. We value inclusion.”
(And, while he was at it, he thought he’d mention how proud he was to testify in favor of ENDA)
Target hasn’t yet taken an official stance on the amendment, but they featured a gay themed t-shirt line on their website and donated the proceeds ($120,000) to Family Equality Council which supports, well, family equality.
So now I’m stuck. I’m going to have to buy breakfast cereal, and I don’t even eat breakfast cereal.
I wonder… can I pick up Cheerios at Target while I’m on my way to JCPenney to buy Levis?
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Jessamine
June 15th, 2012
Perhaps you would prefer Häagen-Dazs? There’s no need to limit yourself to Cheerios, or even breakfast cereals.
http://www.generalmills.com/en/Brands.aspx
JesterKatz
June 15th, 2012
Somehow, I doubt NOM is aware what neutral means.
Lindoro Almaviva
June 15th, 2012
Oh sweetheart, you do not need to buy Breakfast cereal at all. Prefer yogurt? Mountain high is just as good as any other; or if you prefer, Yoplait is available in many flavors. Not into yogurt but LOVE pancakes? Biskquick to the rescue.
From now on, any birthday cake will be Pillsburry or Betty Crocker.
Got the flu? Need some chicken noodle soup? Well, Progresso is not only from general Mills, but it also has a low caloric content.
Taco night? Old el Paso has just the right kind of queso or salsa for the tacos (or the nachos).
Going to a party? Well, chex mix is always a party favorite. And look, it comes gluten free! while you are at it, grab a bag of Gardetto’s too.
Got the midnight munchies? Totino’s will fill the hungriest mouth, and the kids love it too.
Finally, feeling depressed? Bad break up? Friday night why-no-one-loves-me blues? Haagen Daz has the right flavor to send those blues packing.
On the other hand, why limit the shopping to just cereal?
tim
June 15th, 2012
Marilyn Carlson Nelson also came out in support. She is the daughter of the founder of Carlson Cos and the chairperson of the board. So feel free to stay at Raddison’s, eat at TGI Fridays, and book your travel from WagonLit Travel.
StraightGrandmother
June 15th, 2012
tim that is nice to know about Carlson Cos.
And if you are looking for a gREAT product from JC Penneys I strongly recommend their AmericanLiving brand of sheets.
Nowadays sheets advertise a high thread count but they come out of the dryer all wrinkled. NOT the AmericanLiving sheets from JC Penney. If you would like a little bedroom spruce up or need to give a really good gift, I really recommend these sheets. The words are attached, AmericanLiving brand sheets from JC Penneys.
TwirlyGirly
June 15th, 2012
Would it be possible for BTB to publish a list of all corporations that have gone on record thus far as supporting marriage equality? Perhaps the list could be updated whenever a new company voices their support.
I would love to have access to such a list, as there is someone I deal with online who has vowed not to do business with ANY company that supports marriage equality. Methinks it won’t be too far in the future he’ll be left standing alone, stark naked, in a field somewhere – with no possessions to his name whatsoever. ;)
Timothy Kincaid
June 16th, 2012
TwirlyGirl,
That would be an interesting project. Maybe it could be a collective effort.
But as for your acquaintance, the next time he makes such a claim, just tell him that you hear that Ted Kaczynski’s cabin is available.
StraightGrandmother
June 15th, 2012
Twirley girl, I don’t think he can wear Levi jeans, if I am not mistaken. Furthermore he can’t use Gooogle anymore, he can’t use any Microsoft or Apple product. These are just off the top of my head. And I am sure you know, no Starbucks.
Ryan P.
June 16th, 2012
Best Buy has come out as very favorable toward gays. They have a awesome video for the Trevor Project that they released this month. All stores were to show it to their employees. It is now on You-Tube. What was amazing is that our general store manager came out as a lesbian to the whole store at that time.
TwirlyGirly
June 17th, 2012
LOL! What I’m really waiting for is Yahoo! to come out as supporting marriage equality – this idiot owns a Yahoo! Group that’s his entire life…
So few of these bigots are willing to put their “money” where their mouths are. They’re always ready to boycott the companies that offer the products and services they can easily do without, but sing a different tune when it comes to those they depend on – especially when it comes to any company that provides a service they rely on to spread their bigotry.
I knew about Microsoft – but thus far, I haven’t heard of a single anti-gay activist calling for a boycott of Microsoft products.
Wonder why THAT is? (Not really – I know very well why).
Oh, and BTW — it’s “Twirly Girly,” not “Twirly Girl.” ;)
Ben In Oakland
June 18th, 2012
TwG– ken hutcherson wanted to take over microsoft, or some usch nonsense.
jerry
June 18th, 2012
Hot damn, I live across the street from the Target in DC and it was a royal pain in the ass boycotting them. Now I won’t have to do that anymore.
Michael K
June 18th, 2012
Was over at NOM and saw that Ash, the usual nom “factfinder”, mentioned your blog. Thought that was funny!
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