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Subscribe to RSSST. PAUL, Minn. — General Mills - the owner of Wheaties, Betty Crocker, Green Giant and other iconic American brands - said Thursday it opposes a proposed Minnesota constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage, the largest company in the state to come out against the measure so far.
"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," Ken Charles, vice president of global diversity and inclusion for General Mills, wrote in a letter to employees and the public, the Star Tribune reported. "We value diversity. We value inclusion. We always have and we always will."
A company spokeswoman did not immediately return a call from The Associated Press requesting a copy of the letter.
"This will go down as one of the dumbest corporate PR stunts of all time," warned Brian Brown, president of the National Organization for Marriage, a group pushing for the amendment.
NOM has spearheaded campaigns against other pro-gay marriage corporations, including Starbucks.
Minnesota already bans gay marriage by statute, but gay marriage opponents have said putting the ban in the state constitution would make it harder for courts to undo it. Voters will decide the issue in November.
Minnesota for Marriage, another group pushing for the amendment's passage, accused General Mills of "pandering to a small but powerful interest group."
"By taking this position, General Mills is saying to Minnesotans and people all around the globe that marriage doesn't matter to them," Chairman John Helmberger said in a statement.
Executives from St. Jude Medical, RBC Wealth Management and Carlson Companies also have publicly opposed the proposal.
Businesses have found it can be risky to take sides on polarizing social issues. Target Corp. suffered a backlash two years ago after making a political donation to a Republican candidate for governor who opposed gay marriage. The company was criticized again earlier this month for selling gay pride T-shirts to raise money for a group working to defeat the gay marriage ban.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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By the way, in this country, we ARE the GOVERNMENT in this country. Majority rules, that's what it has BEEN since the beginning of this nation. And as you saw again and again, we DON'T condone homosexual behavior and don't in any state where the poeple HAVE SPOKEN on the issue, CONDONE their joining together in marriage.
Majority rules?
So, that means if I can get enough people we can vote away your right to bear arms? We can vote away your right to free speech?
The majority cannot vote away the freedom of the minority.
You're ignorance of the Constitution is stunning.
For someone who spouts from the bible, you are sure full of hate "no more"....or are you full of fear that your closet door is opening faster than expected. Your "abnormal" words for homosexuals only support the fact that door is going to be wide open and soon.
If it any consolation, i'm sure the homosexual community hopes you stay within that closet. Standards are standards.
That means SAMMY, that when something peculiar comes up before the PEOPLE to vote on, like a referendum, we VOTE our conscience. We elect our leaders that way, judges, and we INDCATE thumbs up or down on issues. Your isde just HAPENS to be on the LOSING end of every referendum on the subject of homosexual issues, becuase MOST AMERICANS find it to be NON-NORMAL
Doesn't matter how you vote. It's unconstitutional. You can't vote away my freedom.
.....my name is Sam. Why do conservatives think it's such a big insult to call me Sammy? My mother calls me Sammy.
LOL.
SAM-------- Listen very carefully little lefty homo.
If we open a constitutional convention and leave you with no rights, well then, I guess we can vote away your rights can't we?
Each states gets one vote, homo, no matter how many people are in it.
You might want to take a look at how many states voted red in 2008.
It only takes 38 states homo.
So far, you haven't pi$$ed us off enough, yet.
I wouldn't count on it staying that way, we have a little less patience daily with the drones/perversions of the biology.
Well, you've tried before and never got even close.
Good luck with that. I think most people don't care that much, and most of the people like you are old and will be dead soon.
Archie, you are on the losing end of the stick. YOU are in the minority.
..and just for the record. I'm a straight, married, male who believes in religious freedom.
That means I have a right to be free from your moronic, egotistical, God.
If the universe had an "intelligent designer", that rules out the Christian god as the designer because he's too obtuse to have designed anything.
Maybe a different smarter god designed the universe, and the Christian god was just subcontracted labor?
Sam----- yes of course you are a married sraight male, Sam, snicker.
Sorry Sam, you are sounding stupid again, I am not a Christian, have no religion to speak of, you are wasting your hot air.
I just see the homos as drones/perversions of the biology, who are disgusting ersatz life forms.
If it is any consolation, I feel the same way about all of the lefty liberal parasites.
I despise you people with a depth and intensity, that simply has no bottom.
When I run up on people like you, I go directly to my favortites, punch up every one of my elected repsand urge them to set a national referendum on dividing the country and forcing you parasites to live by your self.
Archie:
I find it funny that you think anyone and everyone who defends homosexual marriage MUST be a homosexual themselves. It's hilarious that you truly believe your own BS.
It's funny how the Right wing says they want smaller, less intrusive government...But they want to stick their noses in women's reproductive organs, and the relationships of two consenting adults. They are such hypocrites! How does anyone's marriage affect anyone else? How does who a person decides to love affect the love you share for who you chose? It doesn't...More than that, the way marriage is going in this country, I would think they would be advocating more of them, there is always more than a 50% chance they will fail anyway - More money for the greedy bloodsucking Republican lawyers!
And here's what HOMOSEXUALS who are vindictive BY NATURE decided to do about NOT being allowed to give blood:
A homosexual student activist at Harvard University told other students to deny their homosexuality when donating blood, according to the university's student newspaper.
According to The Harvard Crimson, Clifford Davidson sent an email to members urging them to circumvent Red Cross and FDA rules that prevent homosexuals from donating blood to the Red Cross. Davidson is a Harvard senior and leader of BOND, a campus homosexual student organization.
"On the Red Cross's form, you will be asked: 'Are you a man who has had sexual contact with another man since 1973?' This applies to many of you. You should lie," the Crimson quoted Davidson as having written in the email.
The Crimson article also quoted another Harvard student who justified the contents of Davidson's email.
"The [FDA/Red Cross] rule is based on homophobic stereotypes," BOND member Fred O. Smith told the Crimson. "In this case, I don't think it is unreasonable to ignore it."
They screen all the blood no matter who it comes from. There aren't any 'GAY ONLY' diseases. They have to screen it all.
Irrelevant.
It's okay, we don't mind locking them up for mutiple counts of attempted murder.
Ok, Arch. I'll watch the papers for the indictments.
LOL.
Yeah Sam, your comments say ALOT about the homosexual mindset. Like the Sandusky trial here in Pa, he also didn't think he SHOULD be prohibited from doing whatever he wanted. It's more a disease than it is a genetic matter, isn't it SAM??
Until 20 years ago, when a homosexual declared WAR on the psychiatric profession for referring to homosexuality as a mental illness, which it IS by the way, as they had for 100 years or so, it was seen as what it IS, not whT YOU AND OTHER libs TRY TO PORTRAY IT as. It's never been normal, it never will be NORMAL, no matter how many times you creeps suggect it IS.
WRONG. Homosexuality is not a mental illness, but homophobia is, and you should seek professional help. Furthermore, homosexuals did not "declare war on the psychiatric profession":
http://www.aglp.org/gap/1_history/
See homosexuals think they should LIE so they can infect others with their diseases. That's normal, right PAT??? They're just IGNORING medical FACTS and jeopardizing the rest of us, because they THINK IT'S OK... Nothing wrong with that, right LIBS???
My, my my...thou doth protest a bit too much "no more". Perhaps your second homosexual date will work out better than the first one.
You also have to be at least 5'1", over 17 years old and weigh over 130lbs to donate. Those damn shorties and all their diseases!
Regardless of the orientation of the donor, or the honesty of the donor in reporting other risk factors at the time of donation, all donated blood receives the same testing. There are no "gay diseases" that heterosexuals cannot carry, and there are definitely no "gay diseases" that cannot be successfully tested for in the in incoming blood samples. They are not lying to try to infect. They are simply not disclosing an absolutely irrelevant fact.
Ah yes the world famous you must be a secret homo if you don't like them.
Cary on homos, we are still thinking about it.
It's NOT your decision JUSTROSS to determine what is RELEVANT and DETECTABLE by testing for diseases you perv. See, they even justify LYING to further their own quest for NORMALITY. It's sickening...
No-more-libs:
Care to provide some facts? No? Oh, what's that? You can't back up anything you say with facts, logic, or a small amount of sanity?! Well, imagine that.
I now have to switch all my cereal purchase TO GM.
Been married to my spouse for 23 years, someone else's divorce or marraige does not impact that. But, for my children and their children being able to marry whom they love- no matter the genders, is what I want for them.
A homosexual student activist at Harvard University told other students to deny their homosexuality when donating blood, according to the university's student newspaper.
According to The Harvard Crimson, Clifford Davidson sent an email to members urging them to circumvent Red Cross and FDA rules that prevent homosexuals from donating blood to the Red Cross. Davidson is a Harvard senior and leader of BOND, a campus homosexual student organization.
"On the Red Cross's form, you will be asked: 'Are you a man who has had sexual contact with another man since 1973?' This applies to many of you. You should lie," the Crimson quoted Davidson as having written in the email.
The Crimson article also quoted another Harvard student who justified the contents of Davidson's email.
"The [FDA/Red Cross] rule is based on homophobic stereotypes," BOND member Fred O. Smith told the Crimson. "In this case, I don't think it is unreasonable to ignore it."
Don't worry Magemom.
They have to screen it all anyway. Seems a lot of preachers and priests have aids.
No-more-libs:
Well, that solves the mystery of where you are getting your "facts": A SCHOOL NEWSPAPER ....ahahaha ahaha ahahaha ha ahaha ha ha!!!!
Yes, of course, homo
Online comments are often not a very good sample of real political opinions. In my personal life, however, I have been terrified at the ascension of what seems to be a "homosexual question."
Homosexuality is not a problem to be solved. For the sake of humanity, and for this country, if you think that is the case, do not think so, or do not seek solutions.
Those of us whose families have been touched by true horror can see its shadow everywhere; and it's still here in the United States.
Shawn, all those words amounted to NOTHING in your post. Did you eat alot of paint chips as a child?? Were you raised by 2 people PORTRAYING the opposite sex on alternating days, like homesexuals do?? Did they cross dress on weekends??
Were you told to alternately call one DAD, then the other MOM, week after week, while they SORTED out their transgendering issues??
libs,
Did you finish high school?
....yet.
My company extends health benefits to unmarried "domestic partners" regardless of gender.
OH.....the IMMORALITY OF IT ALL!
Please post thier name, I'll add them to my don't use, list
Google it Arch. You're gonna have a LONG list of stuff to boycott. :)
Gee homo can't figure out any way to google Sam and find out if he works for what company.
I find their support of Sandusky bothersome but aberrant behavior seems to be the popular cause these days.
Cunical:
How does supporting Homosexuality support Pedophilia? Pedophiles rarely, if ever, care about the gender of the children they violate.
Sam, what about that article that told homosexuals to LIE and give blood, though they are PROHIBITED from doing so. Is that OK??? Why do you think the FDA prohibites them from giving blood, if the things they do are OK?? You know who else isn't permitted to give blood, right SAM?? Intervenous drug users, prostitutes, and HOMOSEXUALS. Good company for that select few who are PROHIBITED, don't you think??
I don't care.
They have to screen every bit of it anyway. What difference does it make. I don't think every gay person went out and did because some student leader said to either.
Chill out no-mo. It's all good.
To..no-more"""
Why do they prohibit people with Hep C from giving blood ...many only find out they got it when screened for giving blood ...your argument is getting past being silly
Sam, what about that article that told homosexuals to LIE and give blood, though they are PROHIBITED from doing so. Is that OK???
How many times are you going to ask me that?
Probably, until you answer him, Straight, married to a woman, SAM
Sam, great for your employer, but thats their choice, they didn't change any laws.
A homosexual student activist at Harvard University told other students to deny their homosexuality when donating blood, according to the university's student newspaper.
According to The Harvard Crimson, Clifford Davidson sent an email to members urging them to circumvent Red Cross and FDA rules that prevent homosexuals from donating blood to the Red Cross. Davidson is a Harvard senior and leader of BOND, a campus homosexual student organization.
"On the Red Cross's form, you will be asked: 'Are you a man who has had sexual contact with another man since 1973?' This applies to many of you. You should lie," the Crimson quoted Davidson as having written in the email.
The Crimson article also quoted another Harvard student who justified the contents of Davidson's email.
"The [FDA/Red Cross] rule is based on homophobic stereotypes," BOND member Fred O. Smith told the Crimson. "In this case, I don't think it is unreasonable to ignore it."
Post his name, let us get in touch with him and thank him
Thank HIM ARCHIE??? For possible attempted MURDER ?? See, if ANYONE here doubted the MONDSET of the homosexual, note the post by ARCHIE. He thinks this perv is some kind of hero...yes, the left has a queer sense of what is admirable in human character.
r
Gay people are living together as couples now. Always have. Always will. Denying them inheritance rights or hospital vistitations rights is not going to save your marriage.
Sorry.
no more libs, go back, read it again and think about it.
For those of you UNAWARE that homosexuals can't give bllod, there's this little tidbit. And NOTE the behavior that put INNOCENT people's lives in jepoardy so they COULD GIVE BLOOD:
A homosexual student activist at Harvard University told other students to deny their homosexuality when donating blood, according to the university's student newspaper.
According to The Harvard Crimson, Clifford Davidson sent an email to members urging them to circumvent Red Cross and FDA rules that prevent homosexuals from donating blood to the Red Cross. Davidson is a Harvard senior and leader of BOND, a campus homosexual student organization.
"On the Red Cross's form, you will be asked: 'Are you a man who has had sexual contact with another man since 1973?' This applies to many of you. You should lie," the Crimson quoted Davidson as having written in the email.
The Crimson article also quoted another Harvard student who justified the contents of Davidson's email.
"The [FDA/Red Cross] rule is based on homophobic stereotypes," BOND member Fred O. Smith told the Crimson. "In this case, I don't think it is unreasonable to ignore it."
Sure thing we have an organization that monitors that, I can promise you that if you do and some one ends up with aids as a result, you will be in jail for a very long time.
No more:
How many times are you going to post the same thing?
Your argument has been shot down so many times that even I am beginning to feel pity for your stupidity.
Snookums if you are talking to me, you are intimately acquainted with stupidity.
I have just gained more respect for General Mills. Thank you for standing up for your employees and the people of your state.
I guess I've been wrong all this time when people say homosexuality is a choice ..they know it is because they personally made the choice to be or not to be gay...why didn't they just come out and say that in the first place then
obviously you aren't the most intelligent member of you family.
Am:
They probably didn't come out and say because they were afraid. Or maybe they didn't think it was anyone's business but their own.
Homosexuality is in the genes. It is not a choice (for most). Those who made the homosexuality choice probably did so for a number of reasons (abuse, no satisfaction from opposite sex, etc.).
Attempt to ban basic human rights to be STOOD UP AND DENOUNCED by General Foods.
My senior year college marketing professor in Societal Marketing proved her point.....some companies do care beyond the profit margin........LOUD APPLAUSE.
the homophobes think they can vote away your constitutional rights.
They can't. End of Story.
If they can, we can vote away their right to freedom of religion. They don't understand that anything they do to someone else can be done to them.
The constitution has lasted over 200 years in SPITE of bible thumpers.
Thank Zeus.
There is NOTHING whatsoever in the Constitution that says HOMOSEXUALS are in any way, a class of person. They are just the deviants that are now and always have been looked at as NON-NORMAL. It's been a abhorrence since the beginning of time, and NO amount of time or PROPAGANDA will ever change that.
Nothing whatsoever in any of our founding documents recognize it. The states will decide the matter and they HAVE on every occasion, VOTED it as a deviation from NORMAL behavior.
If homosexuals are abnormal and deviants then the same applies to heterosexuals too. The states should decide nothing. Marriage is a human right.
Yet the Supreme Court has determined that marriage is a "basic civil right" under the 14th Amendment's Equal Protection and Due Process Clauses, and that covers ALL US citizens -- including homosexuals, who are taxpayers, too.
BTW, civil rights cannot be voted on in this country, which is why when such votes are taken, they are challenged -- and found to be unconstitutional, which they are.
Yeah SAM, they can, one constitutional amendment and you homos are all done.
Then we ship you to Rwanda and party over.
"Vice President for diversity and inclusion"?
That sounds like a do nothing job that pays 500k a year for the wife of a future dem presidential candidate so he can spend his time as a community organizer.
Speaking of community organizers, seems our NOW president will returning to that line of work again in Jan 2013. He should lend a hand to the sodomy lobby's attempts to spread their porpaganda at the LOCAL level, where he BELONGS. He was NEVER qualified to be president, just like jimmy carter before him.
Your elementary school level phrase is applied to heterosexuals???...you know...considering they perform it more then homosexuals do.
Cite your evidence homo bs'er
Archie:
Could say the same to you and your trolling BS.
Way too step up General Mills....Now you need too stop giving Money to the GOP..
If you want to kill the monsters then we must not feed them anymore...Then we all will live better
Eat more eggs they good for you.
Mr Bunker was seen eating out Cheerios.
Good for General Mills...and for Target. In our society, they are portrayed as money-grubbing, amoral big-business companies. If even they can see this homophobia is just another form of discrimination, then what the hell is wrong with the rest of us?
Nothing wrong with us, shortly we will educate JC Penny and not long after that, General Mills.
Archie:
People like you are becoming a minority. JC Penny, General Mills, Target, etc. will do just fine. In the end, supporting equal rights will prove to be the right (and potentially profitable) choice.
Well, I rarely went to Target and Starbucks, ..but, now I'll avoid the GM brands and J.C. Penney when I can. Why say the right side hates the homosexuals...we don't hate anyone.., the left side like to think we do...they are mistaken. I just don't like them forcing their agenda: teaching kids this is an ok lifestyle-homosexuals are very militant and violently hostile. The homosexuals like to convert the young kids to this sad life style. Do your own thing and stop trying to teach it to everyone else. We won't change, ever, as you probably won't either. Do your own thing..but, don't bring it into my living room...I just turn it off.
To..Yeshua""""
You already proved what you seem to be denying...
Yeshua, what operating system do you have on your computer? Just an FYI, both Microsoft and Apple endorse marriage equality too.
Maybe you can use your bigot bible to connect to the internet.
What kind of bull s**t job is "Ken Charles, vice president of global diversity".
IdahoSteve Amunaka Why don't you two fags get together and have a spud of a time with one another. Two ignorant fruitcake libs. This is the reason our country is going to hel*. Liberal morons!
To..Fuzzy"""
You sure are a silly one....not that i have to point that out...