Gay activists boycott AMWAY after president donates $500,000 to traditional marriage
August 10, 2012 (LifeSiteNews.com) – In 2009, Amway President Doug DeVos donated half a million dollars to the National Organization for Marriage (NOM). On August 3, his donation came under attack by gay activist Fred Karger’s Rights Equal Rights organization in the form of a global boycott.
The reason for the boycott, according to RightsEqualRights.com, is to “support our friends and…keep pressure on the mega-donors to NOM and other likeminded organizations and individuals who so vigorously oppose Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) equality.”
Amway's Doug Devos
NOM has recently urged boycotts of Starbucks and General Mills, who have donated significant sums of money to supporting gay “marriage,” which Rights Equal Rights gives as further reason for the boycott of Amway.
But the difference, according to NOM President Brian Brown, is that “unlike our opponents, we do not target whole companies for the actions of an individual business executive in that company. But Starbucks has taken a corporate position in support of redefining marriage for all of society.”
A spokeswoman for Amway emphasised this difference between private and corporate action. “As private citizens, the DeVos family supports causes and organizations that advocate for policies aligned to their personal beliefs,” she said.
“[The family believes] one of the highest callings of any individual is to express their own personal beliefs as a participant in the democratic process.”
Karger, however, appears determined to continue with the boycott, calling NOM a “known hate group” in an August 9 Huffington Post article.
While NOM says its mission is “to protect marriage and the faith communities that sustain it,” Karger says its “goal appears to be harming Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Americans.”
“NOM constantly defends anti-LGBT companies like its ally Chick-fil-A and its owner for hateful and bigoted comments and actions,” said Karger. “NOM has that right under our First Amendment and so do we.”
The Rights Equal Rights website states, “A global boycott of Amway will let others know that there are consequences of giving massive amounts of money to take away the rights of a minority.”
Amway has responded, clarifying that it does not discriminate in any way.
“Our employees and distributors come from all walks of life and represent an incredibly diverse set of backgrounds,” said the spokeswoman for Amway. “The Amway opportunity is open to everyone.”
Karger has directed four previous boycotts against other major donors to NOM and Yes on Proposition 8. Two of those donors have settled, donating a like amount to LGBT organizations. One of those companies, Bolthouse Farms, gave $110,000 to homosexualist groups after donating $100,000 to Yes on Proposition 8.
“As…with our four other boycott targets,” Karger says, “we at Rights Equal Rights remain open to a possible settlement of the Amway/Alticor Boycott at any time.”
Amway stands by the statement that Doug DeVos has a right to donate his personal money where he wishes.
