Photos

Recent Articles  

Shop on ChicagoPride.com

Share

The American Family Association, one of the country’s worst offenders when it comes to promoting hate and homophobia, has recently started a boycott of Kraft Foods over their support of the 2006 Gay Games in Chicago. (Full Story)

In April, the AFA ended their boycott against Proctor and Gamble over the Cincinnati-based P&Gs support of the repeal of an anti-gay law in that city, claiming success after the company ended most of its advertising in the gay media. Truth be told, P&Gs advertising cycle ended, and they have promised that when it renews, they will continue to advertise in the gay media. We shall see. 

The AFA is best described as SCARY. Any group that thinks rabid-conservative talk show host Bill O’Reilly is too lenient when it comes to the ‘homosexual agenda’, would probably think the same of Hitler and Genghis Khan. 

So what are we doing to support Kraft?

The LGBT community is sitting back and watching as religious-driven legislators run roughshod over our civil liberties. It’s only a handful of our community and their tireless efforts (like the HRC, and The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force) that have been putting up a fight. Enough is enough. It’s time for all of us to put down our drink, step away from the chat room, and fight for our rights. 

The Christian Right are armed and dangerous. They’re organized. They’re effective. They have websites and petitions and everything. We should be scared. We should be really scared. 

They claim to have had 300,000 signatures on their petition to Proctor and Gamble. Can we say the same?

This is a game of the loudest voice wins. For the most part, corporations are not guided by a moral compass. They’re driven by their bank accounts. If the Christian Right can organize enough people against Kraft, they might pull their support of the Gay Games, or even worse, might not support events in the future. 

We need to show Kraft that their support of LGBT events is more worthwhile than the thorn in their side provided by organizations like the AFA that wish it was 1959. 

Here’s what you can do: As much as I would love to say that simply buying an extra bag of Double Stuff Oreos™ (which I personally adore) is showing your support, it’s not going to cut it. Not unless you stand in the middle of your grocery screaming ‘we’re here, we’re queer, we eat fatty foods’. And that will get you thrown out. Trust me. 

First and foremost, sign the petition. Show your appreciation for Kraft and their support of the 2006 Gay Games. www.ipetitions.com/campaigns/supportkraft

Second call, or write Kraft and let them know you appreciate them, and encourage their support of LGBT events like the 2006 Gay Games. Their toll-free number is 1-800-323-0768. 

Third, write them a letter. Corporations put a great deal of stock in the written word. If you are willing to take the time, in this day and age, to send them a letter, you must be passionate. They also assume that each letter they receive represents a portion of the populace that didn’t write, but has the same opinion. You can reach Kraft at:

Kraft Foods
CEO Roger K. Deromedi
3 Lakes Dr. 
Northfield, IL 60093

The same can be said of online contact. Visit www.kraftfoods.com and click on the “Ask Kraft” link. From there, at the bottom of the screen, click on “Contact Us”. This will provide you with a contact form to show your support. 

It’s time for every member of our community – Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Bent, Omnisexual, Trisexual, or however you identify yourself, to stand up and send a positive message to corporations that support our community. 

Besides, if I lose my Double Stuffs, I’m gonna be pissed!

by: Michael Bach
© Michael Bach, All Rights Reserved

No one has commented on this article yet.
Be the first one to comment!