In a stunning announcement, McDonald's acquiesces to the precise demands of the American Family Association, who declared a boycott of McDonald's just months ago. The homosexual organization formerly supported was caught of guard, as McDonald's didn't pre-notify them.
-- From "McDonald's cuts off gay chamber of commerce group" by Cheryl V. Jackson, The Sun Times Newsgroup 10/10/08
After months of pressure from an anti-gay-marriage group, McDonald's Corp. has given up a director's seat and will stop sponsorship of a national gay business organization.
Richard Ellis, who until last month was vice president of communications of McDonald's USA, has resigned from the board of directors of the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, franchisees were told in a Sept. 23 memo.
McDonald's USA, which had made a $20,000 donation to the chamber and became a 2008 chamber sponsor, said it would not sponsor the organization in 2009.
Ellis, the company said, "made a personal decision to step down" from the board after he got a new position with McDonald's Canadian operations. "It is our policy to not be involved in political and social issues. McDonald's remains neutral on same-sex marriage or any 'homosexual agenda' as defined by the American Family Association," the memo said.
[The American Family Association commented] "Our concern was: Here is a family-friendly company that has, all of a sudden, joined hands and became a partner and ally with an organization that is absolutely attacking the moral foundation of our nation; trying to redefine marriage in our nation," said Buddy Smith, executive assistant to the group's chairman. "All we were asking is that they just simply be neutral in the culture wars and focus on doing their business and remain neutral."
Franchisees were feeling the heat from their customers, said Richard Adams of the Franchise Equity Group consultancy. "It was a huge issue for customers in the South. They put a lot of pressure on franchisees," he said.
To read the entire article, CLICK HERE.
-- From "McDonald's cuts off gay chamber of commerce group" by Cheryl V. Jackson, The Sun Times Newsgroup 10/10/08
After months of pressure from an anti-gay-marriage group, McDonald's Corp. has given up a director's seat and will stop sponsorship of a national gay business organization.
Richard Ellis, who until last month was vice president of communications of McDonald's USA, has resigned from the board of directors of the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, franchisees were told in a Sept. 23 memo.
McDonald's USA, which had made a $20,000 donation to the chamber and became a 2008 chamber sponsor, said it would not sponsor the organization in 2009.
Ellis, the company said, "made a personal decision to step down" from the board after he got a new position with McDonald's Canadian operations. "It is our policy to not be involved in political and social issues. McDonald's remains neutral on same-sex marriage or any 'homosexual agenda' as defined by the American Family Association," the memo said.
[The American Family Association commented] "Our concern was: Here is a family-friendly company that has, all of a sudden, joined hands and became a partner and ally with an organization that is absolutely attacking the moral foundation of our nation; trying to redefine marriage in our nation," said Buddy Smith, executive assistant to the group's chairman. "All we were asking is that they just simply be neutral in the culture wars and focus on doing their business and remain neutral."
Franchisees were feeling the heat from their customers, said Richard Adams of the Franchise Equity Group consultancy. "It was a huge issue for customers in the South. They put a lot of pressure on franchisees," he said.
To read the entire article, CLICK HERE.
