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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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Nothing more than shouting at the rain; just a bunch of increasingly angry, empty rhetoric from a guy who simply MUST know he's fighting a losing battle. And seeing as how, even living on the other side of the world from Seattle, I can't open my car door without hitting a Starbucks, I'd say that big "campaign" that NOM organized against them wasn't particularly effective.
Wait homo, let's see how it works out, when all of you homos have confessed molesting children, we will still be here.
Projection Archie? When did you stop molesting children?
The referendum is in November. Judging from the history of the issue a public vote spells doom for the pro-gay camp.
Most of the companies in Minnesota weighing in on the issue either play it safe and say their for "diversity" or play it smart with "it`s not a business issue".
We`ll see, didn`t they just try and throw the Governor out over another minority issue? How`d that go again?
You're confusing Minnesota with Wisconsin. Minnesota has a very good governor, while Wisconsin has a really ignorant teabagger funded by the Koch brothers.
In fact, Wisconsin's governor is so dumb he only has a high school degree.
right on GM-- the conservative religious right doing battle with the global business/corporate right -- MONEY WINS !! well actually all people/business win with this stand FOR PEOPLES RIGHTS-- gay marriage is here, as it should be.
To all those who feel they must deny others the right to marriage -- PUT A DING-DONG IN IT !!
**technically a Hostess product, but c'mon
Buy lots of ding dongs homo, chances are good they will be out of business in a couple of years.
ho ho ho Archibald, but so so so wrong - married 30+ years, same woman, :D --- no "queer fear" here, i just happen to know the difference between fair, honest, free, decent and the trash values you tote around.
Hey Arch, you still seeing the Palmer twins, Lucy and Rosie?.. of course you are, of course you are.
Can it really be called "abstinence" when the truth is nobody really wants you? See you in the bakery aisle cupcake.
"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.
The chairman is surely sincere in his approach to the defense of marriage, but might be surprised how seriously marriage is taken by those who wish to extend its privileges and responsibilities to same-sex couples.
I cannot see why a company would speak up for or against such a controversial issue. I guess just to see some more hatred stirred up. I love how the liberals, like justross, try to sound so intellectual and condescending to the conservatives. And there are the sams who poke fun at God, calling Him derogatory names. And always there is the hatred and bigotry toward those who don't believe the way they do. I just shake my head, because no matter who you are, how intelligent you think yourself, how stupid you think others, how much you mock and deride, God is Who He said He is, and He has done everything His Word said He would do up until the Rapture of the Church. If some of you doubters would take time to study Bible prophecy you might wise up. But whether you do or you don't, it won't change what God intends to do. I can hear the mockery coming now. But let me leave you with this: If you are right and I am wrong, I have lost nothing. If I am right and you are wrong, you have lost everything.
How do you know? It's a serious question.
That's not true at all. It's called Pascal's Wager, and it's a complete fallacy. If you're wrong, you've actually lived an entire lifetime -- the only one you get, mind you -- under a cloud of delusion and false beliefs. You've most definitely lost something.
Uh huh, I have no religion scumbag, but it would almost me worth it to be wrong and watch all of you homos in front of the Man.
Well Archie, you don't need to worry about seeing the Man. Jesus never spoke out against gay people. Hope you like it hot.
I cannot see why a company would speak up for or against such a controversial issue. I guess just to see some more hatred stirred up. I love how the liberals, like justross, try to sound so intellectual and condescending to the conservatives. And there are the sams who poke fun at God, calling Him derogatory names. And always there is the hatred and bigotry toward those who don't believe the way they do. I just shake my head, because no matter who you are, how intelligent you think yourself, how stupid you think others, how much you mock and deride, God is Who He said He is, and He has done everything His Word said He would do up until the Rapture of the Church. If some of you doubters would take time to study Bible prophecy you might wise up. But whether you do or you don't, it won't change what God intends to do. I can hear the mockery coming now. But let me leave you with this: If you are right and I am wrong, I have lost nothing. If I am right and you are wrong, you have lost everything.
Tired:
"God" has absolutely no place in this discussion and is only relevant when referring to anything related to a religious institution, not when referring to business and/or political conduct. Keep your "God" to yourself!
How is defending an American right, which should be available to all citizens, wrong or make someone better than someone else?
Well lefty, we have every right to call for a constitutional convention and take all of the rights away from the homos.
Great, but since your imaginary friend in the sky isn't a US citizen he doesn't get to vote on this issue, does he?
Not a Christian, homo just a normal every day kind of guy that considers homos disgusting drones/perversions of the biology.
Archie:
You really do make this BS up as you go! Watch out when the Supreme court strikes all you bigoted, hypocritical, trolling, religious zealots out of the picture by ruling the ban on homosexual marriage as unconstitutional.
Arieus
Good for General Mills, and if the State of Minnesota doesn't like it, then ti's time for GM to relocate to a state like Iowa that allows gay marriage.
Iowans don't support state recognition of homosexual hookups as marriage. Seven judges enacted the legislation creating homosexual marriage in Iowa. Three of those judges were up- for retention in the 2010 election and all three were booted from the bench.
I know, right?
The simple fact is this a very small and very vocal minority tugging emotional strings trying to further their agenda on an increasingly uncomfortable majority.
Show me 2-3 public referendums (popular votes statewide) in favour of same sex marriage and I`ll show you a true popular shift in thinking.
Everything else is, well, the internet, LOL!!
Only part of that majority is "uncomfortable", and I'm not sure that your discomfort is reason enough to keep homosexuals from marriage.
What part of their "agenda" do you object to?
What part did I declare discomfort to?
What part do you object to Marxist?
Karl Marx? Really?
You said that the majority is uncomfortable, meaning: showing discomfort. You tell me, what makes you uncomfortable?
I didn't say I objected to anything, you did. Stop deflecting.
No, YOU READ what I typed and YOU stop deflecting, okay?
Here, let me help;
I`m merely stating that one side (the same sex community) is losing it`s arguement through the popular vote.
That while being increasingly shrill and argumentive (as you are attempting to troll me into) that unless the public`s perception of gay marriage shifts soon expect more defeats in statewide ballots and more handwringing and calls of hate, bigotry and injustice from the gay camp.
Get it now, Marxist?
Here's what you wrote:
I asked you: 1. What part of the agenda do you object to? 2. What is causing your discomfort?
I think these are pretty clear questions, though I did make one assumption and that is you are part of the uncomfortable majority. Are you?
Your sentence above didn't make a ton of sense, but are you suggesting that gay rights proponents shouldn't be "shrill and argumentative"? Should they simply accept defeat with a whimper and give up?
Wow.
You`re not getting this at all, are you?
I`m stating a third person position here Karl, I`m not taking sides, get it?
Merely calling out the game from the booth here Marxist.
Looks like the same sex marriage people are losing and will continue to lose in a public forum. Get it now? And yes the same sex team has to replace numbers with electronic noise. You agree? No? Well guess what, you`re wrong,okay?
You read Aristotle or Tacitus much? Maybe Cicero?
Polls are very clear in the shift. The fact that legislatures are voting for it, and that there are even popular votes, shows the shift.
Twenty years or so ago (let alone farther back) absolutely none of this would be happening.
The shift in public opinion is very real and very obvious. It will take awhile for popular votes to actually succeed, given the money and fervor by the opponents, but anti-gay marriage efforts are ultimately doomed, either by constitutional challenge or by demographics.
I don't think you're understanding my question, but don't worry, I won't be a dick about it. Ahem.
I understand your main point about the public forum and the gay rights advocates losses. That's not what I'm questioning about your original post. This is the part of your post that I'm questioning:
You talk about an "agenda" and an "uncomfortable majority". I'd like you to expand on those two things.
Leftys and your homo sidekicks, what is to keep us from calling for a constitutional convention and taking all of the rights of the homos, away?
Rememeber, each state gets on e vote.
It doesn't matter how many people a state has , one state gets one vote.
We only need 38 votes to pass a constitutional amendment.
Might want to check and see how many states voted red, homos.
Our patience is not infinite and you have been trying to force us to acknowledge you ,as decent normal human beings for three years now.
Our patience is not infinite.
archie: go for it. Better go for it now, since the older generation of homophobic bigots is dying off quickly, and the younger generation can't imagine why people like you even care about it.
Archie,
Go ahead, and call your convention. Tell me, are there any more citizens of this country you'd like to @!$%# on at the same time? Think about it, that way you can just have one convention to cover all the people you don't like.
Vermont Gut, you leftys really believe all of that, don't you?
Hang around lefty delusionist, let's see how it works out.
We are not going to be in a forgiving mood after we dump Obama.
The leftys and their homos sidekicks are about to run into reality
hahahhaha oh yeah-- Archies gonna call for a constitutional convention-- dude you maybe, MAYBE can call for pizza and help.... that's it. The only other thing you will "call" is if you wise up and call it quits.
Find another pinwheel to attack Don Sakrette.
just one more supporter out of 1000s of huge company's ty so much :)
no-more-libs
we have a GUARANTEED right of freedom of religion in the 1st amendment, deal with it. The sooner you on the left learn to accept the US CONSTITUTION. The US CONSTITUTION also says THAT ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL. It is about time YOU RELIGIOUS ZEALOTS ACCEPT THAT.
Actually, that's the Declaration of Independence, but your point is still valid. Just make it more factually correct, and you'll be set. :)
I am definitely on the liberal left. Yes, you have Freedom of Religion (meaning which church and belief you want to follow..doesn't have to be Christian) but I also have the right to Freedom From Religion. And, I used to be a very good Christian until the today version of Christianity showed its very ugly face.
It really is too bad that today's Christianity is not for the God I know, but for the powerful rich. And, it doesn't matter if you very poor if you are conservative you will still vote for the powerful rich. Why, I have no idea why you vote against yourselves.
All citizens of the United States of American shall have the same rights. It takes a while for this fact to sink in sometimes. It started with the Civil War, not before, it went on to the women rights, the black rights and now we have to fight the right for marriage to all. Shame on America.
And to be patronizing this particular cereal brand, only to find out that they want me to side with them on an issue that is outside of buying cereal. Hmmm, easy choice, I won't buy GM cereals anymore. I don't even care if I am starving. Not gonna happen. Sorry, the company made a bad decision that now will affect all employees, directly or indirectly. GM should have not made such a bad move.
I guess it's a good thing that you aren't the only person in the world who eats cereal.
yawn. a zillion people say that, and sales don't change a bit in the end. Its easy to post threats, but ultimately that box of cheerios is going to end up in the shopping cart at the end of the day.
Uh huh, lefty scumbag, don't assume our patience is endless.
"lefty scumbag"? lol. The only thing I "assume" about you is that you act like a 12 year old. (and its not really an assumption, its evident from your posts).
Assume away scumbag, you haven't been right in any of the 3 or 4 thousand posts of yours, that I have seen
I love cereal. Thanks for making my choice easier at the super market. Thanks General Mills for being a wonderful American company.
archie: the fact that you disagree with me is the surest sign ever that I am right. :)
let's face it, anyone who uses "scumbag" in all their posts is acting like a 12 year old. Really no assumption necessary.
Vermonyt Guy having read a number of your posts, it's unlikely that I would be lieve you, if you said the sun was coming up in the east tomorrow.
At this point it is obviouis that you are one more little low life lefty scumbag, without merit, worth, value, honor or integrity.
archie: yawn. you don't have to believe me one bit. That's the beauty of all this...you incessently post like a 12 year old for all to see. your level of maturity is obvious to everyone else.
in other words, you've basically chosen to publically humiliate yourself..and you don't even realize it. lol!
Also obvious is that this guy is trolling. DNFTT!
Archie:
Just like you to be a righty "scumbag" who has no idea how to make an argument without appearing childish. Did you ever graduate from kindergarten? No? That explains the majority of your posts.
You done Marxist?
If so remember the guy in the booth is not necessarily the opposition`s head coach...
But the same sex team is losing the game Marxist.
I'm not a marxist, but i'm not exactly insulted when you call me one. Is that all you have? Have you resorted to name calling. That's sort of juvenile, isn't it? It also helps to reply to the original thread.
"losing the game"? twenty years ago it was inconceivable that gay marriage would exist anywhere...now its legal in a number of states, constitutional challenges are heading to SCOTUS, and polls are showing a clear trend.
anti-gay marriage is doomed in the long run, and possibly the short run. its inescapable...the younger generation can't imagine why anyone would care if gays married, and the homophobic bigots are dying off day by day. Its only a matter of time, one way or another.
Bigots like you are losing in court, every time.
Uh huh, lefty you scumbags are headed for a place, you will not enjoy, you really think we are going to put up with you parasites, for ever, don't you?
archie: do you mind if I laugh at you? well, i'm going to do so anyway. :)
Vermont Guy, nah I don't mind at all lefty parasite, go for it, perhaps we will get a chance to talk, down the road.
archie: am I a parasite or a scumbag? Your junior high insults are conflicting. :)
What place is that? Mississippi?
Vermont Guy--- you are one of those bi folks, both scumbag and parasite, it goes with being a dem lefty.
Skrek, hang in, I suspect you will find out.
look up Rwanda,, just in case.
lol, i'm a parasitic scumbag dem lefty. got it.
again, coming from you, the more you just mindlessly repeat 12 year old insults, the more comfident I am about my posts. :)
Why would us parasitic lefty scumbags want to go to Rwanda?
Skrek, all we need is one constitutional amendment and you homoswill be headed for Rwanda.
Archie, not true. We will still be Americans, we will still live here, and we will all live to fight another day. But, Archie your place in your hell will be waiting for you.
Slightly, maybe, maybe no, been there before, homo.
When all of you little lefty scum were sitting behind your keyboard, I had climbed the mountain, crossed the valley and swam the river.
You may still be Americans, but the law may say that we can deport the homos.
Look for Rwanda, snookums.
Rwanda? You mean the place that doesn't allow gay marriage?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_Rwanda
Are you saying that you'd like our country to be more like Rwanda?
You guys are a scream! Here's one for ya. The KKK wants to adopt a highway. Let them adopt the Hershey Highway! Anybody have Captain Munch cerial for breakfast?
No, No, No, I love anything Hershey. I wish raindrops were Dark Chocolate Hershey Kisses and I wish snowdrops were White Chocolate Hershey Kisses. And, I wish all the rocks were Hersey Candy Bars. I wish I were not slightyold so I could live longer to eat Hershey Candies.
Go to another blog everyone. This one is so over talked and so is the China One Child one. Good night.
Impressive and Ballsy! I will be buying General Mills products. Wish other corporations would put their mouth where their money is!
Good on you, you buy what you like, we will buy what we like, we'll find out who is more convincing.
Interesting that no companies opposed to gay marriage are willing to state it publicly.
As will I, General Mills can expect to get my business from now on. Other companies won't come out against because they know its all about hate and bigotry nothing more. For the states that now have legal gay marriage the sky hasn't fallen, straight couples aren't being driven out nothing has happened to traditional marriage in any of those states.
The nation has alread and continues to voice their opinion in over 34 states and millions of fellow Americans have voted to uphold the traditional view of marriage as that between one man and one woman. The vast majority of our nation will not be bullied by the bigot homosexual hateful intollerant small minority. The pro gay potus has no place promoting immoral behavior
Morality is very subjective.
What do you consider a "vast majority"?
http://www.gallup.com/poll/147662/first-time-majority-americans-favor-legal-gay-marriage.aspx
Sandusky for president of the boy scouts and ellen degenerate for girl scouts, this will probably be forthcoming as a presidential mandate
Maybe the pro gay potus will do like he did in NC and add his weight to the issue, he got slammed big time. NC folks said marriage is between one man and one woman.
Quite the surprise that a southern state is filled with ignorant bigots, eh?
Then North Carolina is in the minority.
Marriage is defined nationwide as "the union of any two persons to the exclusion of all others" in Canada since 2005. Same sex marriage is legal in 11 US states. Same sex marriage is legal in half of states in Mexico, including Mexico City.
On the basis of area, marriage is defined as being between a man and a woman only in 43% of North America. Same sex marriage is legal (i.e not defined as solely between a man and a woman) in 57% of North America.
Of course we Canadians have freedom, and Americans not so much so.
//
//
Thank you General Mills for standing along freedom and Liberty in a nation that is suppose to value them. These hate groups that claim to be protecting marriage should look in the mirror and realize the only thing marriage needs protecting against is them.
Wow...from reading these posts, it's clear that several heteros are living in state of heightened fear. Reminds me of the south during the sixties when the last bastions of segregation were being fought by traditional white people who refused and feared equal rights for all American citizens. Sad
I rather doubt those homophobes are really straight, more likely just in denial.
Does General Mills make Fruitcakes?
you homophobic sick sobs. What happen the catholic priest do you a bit hard or something or are you just afraid it is you. 55 year old white man with two kids, I know what team I am on but it is not yours. Good for you General Mills and thank God for the second amendment cause there is nothing I would enjoy more than putting a bullet between the eyes of you right wing taliban so called christians.
and archie make more than you ever will and i dont' live in a trailer or in my moms basement like you, oh and finished just a bit more than 8th grade. you must have been somebodys butt buddy, you sick piece of garbage, just hold the barrel firmly against your forehead and firmly pull the trigger.
And the list goes on. The Nuns on a Bus will likely be the last straw that breaks the anti-Gay movement's back. Here you have people highly respected within the religion who are saying it is no one's place to be discriminating against Gays. Then you have the Vatican coming down with atomic bombs trying to shut them up.
It is all very damning really. Christianity needs to get back to it's roots, the teachings of Jesus and only Jesus. Christianity literally means "to be Christ-like". Not to aspire to be like Christ, to actually live as he lived. Living with his philosophies. You will not find any of that in the Bible, or rather not much. Christ wanted everyone to be treated as human beings, that no one, even non-Christians, should be discriminated against. He thought that any retaliation against violent acts was unworthy of a civil humanity, that you have to be able to forgive and forget.
No one in a Sunday school would tell you that Jesus' own philosophies were based around those of Socrates and Plato. His famous "golden rule" was one such entity.
Do unto others only as you would have done unto yourself.
If more Christians actually followed this rule we would not be here discussing whether or not Gays should be allowed to get married and all of the other stupid BS that has gone on in this thread from the anti-Gay people. I follow this rule myself and I am not even a Christian, hell I am an Atheist but I still follow it because I personally think following this philosophy will make the World a much better place.
Marriage should not be a legal institution by any means but since it is, the law should let any one adult marry any other single adult.
So simple a child could understand.
If faith based folks truly believed in their faith they would never have to speak of it , actions not words are what make a good example.
Unconditional love is what it's all about anyways.
Just my opinion though.