McDonald’s has come under attack recently over what critics claim to be a high-profile endorsement of homosexuality.
Last month, the vice president of communications for the nation’s largest fast-food chain joined the board of directors of the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC), an organization “dedicated to expanding the economic opportunities and advancements of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender/Transsexual (LGBT) business community.”
"I'm thrilled to join the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce team and ready to get to work," Richard Ellis said regarding the move in a released statement.
"I share the NGLCC's passion for business growth and development within the LGBT community and I look forward to playing a role in moving these important initiatives forward,” he added.
Among the groups that have lashed out against the recent move has been the American Family Association (AFA), which has encouraged pro-family citizens to write in to McDonald’s with complaints, condemning the action.
McDonald’s, however, has denied that the appointment of its vice president of communications to the board of the NGLCC constitutes an endorsement of homosexuality, arguing that the AFA has wrongly overblown the issue in its newsletters attacking the company.
"There are numerous other Fortune 500 companies that serve as corporate partners with NGLCC," the company stated in a series of emails addressing customer complaints.
“While one McDonald's employee is affiliated with the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC), McDonald's is in no way 'aggressively promoting the homosexual agenda' as suggested in the [AFA] newsletter,” the company said.
The AFA, however, is not convinced.
"To refer to Richard Ellis, who is the vice president of communications for McDonald's, as 'one McDonald's employee,' as if he is a teenager flipping hamburgers, is disingenuous at best,” AFA said in a statement responding to McDonald’s.
"Giving money to and partnering with a homosexual lobby organization is certainly an enthusiastic promotion of the homosexual agenda,” AFA said.
Don Wildmon, founder and chairman of AFA, has suggested that a boycott on McDonald’s products was a “possibility" if the company would not rectify its actions, according to Baptist Press.
Founded in 1977, and based in Tupelo, Miss., the American Family Association (AFA) is among one of the largest Christian activist organizations dedicated to the promotion of “the biblical ethic of decency in American society.”
Comments
<<Just because I disagrees with another persons choice of lifestyle does not mean I hate them. I disagree with choices my wife makes, but that doesn't mean i hate her, you should learn the difference between disagreement and hatred... >>
But are you on the internet spreading gossip, misinformation and rumors about your wife? No. But you are doing the things which I listed, against gay people. You assume that it is love to tell someone "GOD HATES YOUR SIN" because you consider it a key to salvation. Where in the Bible does Jesus give rank to those who condemn others?
Well Slacker, I just find it sad that conservatism has been so deeeeeeply embedded in American culture that people are willing to ‘boycott’ McDonalds instead of boycotting measures that are tenfold more important.. Focusing their time on silly articles like this and perhaps not realizing that McDonalds' food is gross anyway.
In Corinthians 6:9, 10 tells us God says homosexual is a sin with lots of other things that are sins also in these verses. When any company moves to ok sinful things as ok with them, they go against God. I for one will stop going to McDonald's if they don't change on this. I say this in love for them. It is for their own good and ours too.
"that is almost sadly immature. one should boycott Macdonald's because of its promotion of unhealthy eating or obesity or fried fatty foods... but just because its vp of communications sits on the board? And McDonald's shouldn't rectify anything, they should not be for or against any social issue aside from FOOD! "
It isn't just one man sitting on the board it is the VP of communications for Mcdonalds, sitting on the board, if he would have went to the board as a person off the street A: they wouldn't have put him on the board because he doesn't have enough cout and B: Mcdonalds wouldn't be backing his play (so to speak), but because he went as the VP of communications it is the same as McDonalds giving him the "thumbs Up". It would be the same as if I went as and employee of my company rather then a person off the street. This is the same reason that most companies have Spokesperson's, so that they can discount what anyone else says and back on one company "line". McDonalds is backing the play of their VP of communications by allowing him to sit on the Board as a Employee of Mcdonalds, so Yeah I believe a boycott is in order of McDonalds because it wouldn't be any different then if I boycotted starbucks because they wouldn't serve black people.
If Mcdonalds is willing to sacrifice the money they get from Christians for the Money they get from Gays more power to them, Christians make up quite a bit more of the population of this country then do Homosexuals, so if McD's is willing to loose money to prove a point, then so be it...
To Seven
"i beleive that jesus would say , the greatest commandment is to love one another have you all forgot or you just dont know"
Just because I disagrees with another persons choice of lifestyle does not mean I hate them. I disagree with choices my wife makes, but that doesn't mean i hate her, you should learn the difference between disagreement and hatred...
I think that's his point, if you have to ask....Paul when dealing with a man caught in sexual sin derided the church's attitude toward him and gave commandment that he should be turned over to satan for the destruction of his flesh until he repented, no fellowship with the unrepentant believer.....shame on those who were puffed up......I think he means that we should do what the bible says and not support a company that aligns itself with an anti-christ message by loving it enough to let it know that it is wrong.
"to love one another"
Seven, what exactly does that mean to you?
i beleive that jesus would say , the greatest commandment is to love one another have you all forgot or you just dont know
GMG,
Please do not bother replying to damonkef, he is not here to debate, discuss, or think. He is here to lob biased and hateful attacks.
holito,
Sins are deadly, yes, but that there are 7 "especially" deadly sins, which are the root of all evil? I see no biblical support for such an idea. Also, I think our freewill and choosing to turn from God is the sole root of all evil. However certainly the 7 "deadly" sins enumerated by the RCC are roots of all "kinds" of evils.
There are 7 deadly sins all which are the root of all evil. The worst threat against our children are ignorant parents. Parents who do not teach their children the ways of God are the greatest evil. Our chidren are perishing because of it.
Who is this McDonald's guy?
---------------------------------------------------
seriously, a secular group supports secular views... Why are we suprised?
Jesus is the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through him!!
Jesus is Lord!
damonkef
>>>>Our hate (I mean we love them) literature ensures their higher rates of depression, social ostracism, and rates of suicide. Somehow they still manage to pull it together and succeed. The Devil helps them to keep them on his side for sure. It's soooo obvious. And what's all this nonsense that Ivy-League liberal "elitist" scientists keep saying about homosexuality being innate? Yeah right! Like scientists have EVER been right about anything. They're just about the anti-Christian agenda. I mean look at all the societies that have embraced homosexuality. Sweden, Spain, Canada, Australia, the Netherlands? They're basketcase countries!<<<<
Re: Gay Men Differ From Heterosexuals In Suicidality: Netherlands Study
"This study suggests that even in a country with a comparatively tolerant climate regarding homosexuality, homosexual men were at much higher risk for suicidality than heterosexual men."
http://www.narth.com/docs/netherlands.html
Simon LeVay (born 28 August 1943 in Oxford, England) is a neuroscientist and author known for his studies about brain structures and sexual orientation.
"LeVay cautions against misinterpreting his findings: "It’s important to stress what I didn’t find. I did not prove that homosexuality is genetic, or find a genetic cause for being gay. I didn’t show that gay men are born that way, the most common mistake people make in interpreting my work. Nor did I locate a gay center in the brain." [16]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_LeVay
Sweeping generalities are often made about the so-called "genetic predisposition" toward homosexuality, and yet in actuality nothing has been found in spite of decades of research. And also through much research the predisposition toward depression and suicide continues to be confirmed, even in countries that have embraced homosexuality for quite some time.
Why don't you actually RESEARCH some of this stuff. There are people out there who are desperately seeking data to enable them to normalize homosexual behavior, but the truth is that scientific studies are coming up short. There's a lot of "this could mean that" kinds of things, particularly from people whose bias favors homosexuality. Even Simon LeVay said "if I didn’t find anything, I would give up a scientific career altogether," (stated in a Newsweek interview) (source http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_LeVay). But it's just not there.
Don Wildmon, founder and chairman of AFA, has suggested that a boycott on McDonald’s products was a “possibility" if the company would not rectify its actions, according to Baptist Press.
that is almost sadly immature. one should boycott Macdonald's because of its promotion of unhealthy eating or obesity or fried fatty foods... but just because its vp of communications sits on the board? And McDonald's shouldn't rectify anything, they should not be for or against any social issue aside from FOOD!
AND this portion
"I share the NGLCC's passion for business growth and development within the LGBT community and I look forward to playing a role in moving these important initiatives forward,” he added.
You'd realize it is ONE man who joined the NGLCC. ALL the McDonalds aren't joining. Just this specific one managed by Richard Ellis who is a businessman devoted to positive community relations and a desire to get a fair share of the BIG gay dollar.
Also if you read the portion about the Fortune 500 companies who addressed the "customer complaints" spurred by the AFA, with favorable support it would make sense that the AFA has nothing to stand on except their threat of boycott.