Bye Bye Cheerios?: General Mills announces support for gay ‘marriage’
ST. PAUL, Minnesota, June 15, 2012 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Minnesota-based food giant General Mills has publicly come out in opposition to a proposed constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage in Minnesota.
Currently same-sex “marriage” is against the law in Minnesota. However, in November, Minnesotans will vote on the amendment which would insert the true definition of marriage in the state constitution, making it much more difficult to introduce gay “marriage” in the future.
According to a post put up Thursday, June 14 on the General Mills company blog by Ken Charles, vice president of global diversity and inclusion, “General Mills CEO Ken Powell on Wednesday addressed 400 local gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender professionals and announced that the company opposes the amendment.”
“While General Mills doesn’t normally take positions on ballot measures, this is a business issue that impacts our employees,” Charles said in his post. “I am proud to see our company join the ranks of local and national employers speaking out for inclusion. We do not believe the proposed constitutional amendment is in the best interests of our employees or our state economy - and as a Minnesota-based company, we oppose it.”
“Obviously, there are strongly held views on both sides,” Charles said. “We acknowledge those views, including those on religious grounds. We respect and defend the right of others to disagree. But we truly value diversity and inclusion—and that makes our choice clear. General Mills’ mission is Nourishing Lives. Not just some. But all.”
Brian Brown, president of the National Organization for Marriage (NOM), a major advocate for the marriage amendment, blasted the General Mills Corporation for effectively declaring a “war on marriage” with its own customers.
“Marriage as the union of one man and one woman is profoundly in the common good, and it is especially important for children,” said Brown.
“General Mills makes billions marketing cereal to parents of young children. It has now effectively declared a war on marriage with its own customers when it tells the country that it is opposed to preserving traditional marriage, which is what the Minnesota Marriage Protection Amendment does.”
NOM points out that a national survey conducted by the Alliance Defense Fund last year showed that 63% of people with children living in their home, “believe marriage should be defined ONLY as a union between one man and one woman.” Just thirty-five percent of people with children at home disagreed with the statement. Overall, the ADF survey found that 62% of adults believe marriage is only the union of a man and a woman.
“This will go down as one of the dumbest corporate PR stunts of all time,” said Brown. “It’s ludicrous for a big corporation to intentionally inject themselves into a divisive social issue like gay marriage. It’s particularly dumb for a corporation that makes billions selling cereal to the very people they just opposed.”
The National Organization for Marriage stated it has sent letters to Minnesota’s 50 largest companies and the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, asking them to remain neutral on the marriage issue.
The move by General Mills was sharply criticized by the Minnesota For Marriage Campaign, which said that opposing the amendment thrust the company into a war against marriage that goes against the beliefs of an overwhelming majority of their customers and the best interest of their shareholders.
“It is very disappointing that General Mills has decided to play PC politics by pandering to a small but powerful interest group that is bent on redefining marriage, the core institution of society,” said John Helmberger, Chairman of Minnesota for Marriage, in a statement.
“Marriage is more than a commitment between two people who love each other. It was created by God for the care and well-being of the next generation. The amendment is about preserving marriage and making sure that voters always remain in control over the definition of marriage in our state, and not activist judges or politicians.”
Contact Information:
General Mills Canada Corp
5825 Explorer Drive
Mississauga, ON L4W 5P6
Phone: (905) 212-4000
Consumer comments/questions: (toll-free) 1-800-516-7780
5825 Explorer Drive
Mississauga, ON L4W 5P6
Phone: (905) 212-4000
Consumer comments/questions: (toll-free) 1-800-516-7780
General Mills Inc.
P.O. Box 9452
Minneapolis, MN 55440
Phone: 1-800-248-7310
Fax: 1-763-764-8330
Email: via website form (http://www.generalmills.com/ContactUs.aspx)
P.O. Box 9452
Minneapolis, MN 55440
Phone: 1-800-248-7310
Fax: 1-763-764-8330
Email: via website form (http://www.generalmills.com/ContactUs.aspx)
