Boycott ‘Twilight’: The Mormon Connection

The movie ‘Twilight’ is based on the best-selling series written by Stephanie Meyer.  Ms. Meyer is a practicing Mormon.  Therefore she must tithe — typically 10% of her earnings — thus funding the Mormon church.

However, Ms. Meyer has not commented publicly on gay marriage.

No Fries With That: BURGER KING BOYCOTT

Make the Home of the Whopper do what is fair and help restore a minorities civil rights. 

Stand up!  Inform! 

For more information:

http://www.thepoint.com/campaigns/no-fries-with-that-boycott-burger-king

Reply From Yard House

Having read in the press that a co-owner of the Yard House restaurant had donated to Yes on Prop 8, I contacted the establishment, preparing a boycott.

This is their reply:

Please allow me to begin by thanking you for taking the time to contact us regarding your concerns. Unfortunately, what you have read in the press has been somewhat misrepresented. The donation to Yes on Proposition 8 was not made by Mr. Jocson, but as a private donation by a family member. Yard House Restaurants remains neutral on political issues leaving it up to each individual the right to voice their opinion through the election and voting process.

In addition, Yard House employs more than 3,000 people of all political, racial and sexual persuasions. We are–and remain–an equal opportunity employer. In addition, we also hope that our team members feel comfortable enough to express their opinions without others interpreting such opinions as those of Yard House. Simply put, these are the opinions of individuals who wish to exercise their freedom of expression.

Again, we appreciate you taking the time to share your comments and hope you have a better understanding of the situation.

Sincerely,

Kristi Preston
Guest Relations
Support Center
Yard House Restaurants

phone: (949) 489-5717
fax: (949) 625-7572
email: kpreston@yardhouse.com
web: http://www.yardhouse.com

Boycotts Do Work: See Subway Boycott!

International food chain responds to

 blogger’s demands, franchisee retracts

 gift, job protections added

by PageOneQ

“One down and many more to go,” said Mike Rogers of BlogActive.com in response to the successful result of pressure on the fast food chain Subway after it was disclosed that a franchisee gave $2,500 to the Yes on 8 campaign. Yes on 8 was successful in removing marriage equality from California’s state constitution.

Rogers found the contribution on a list of Yes on 8 contributors compiled by the Human Rights Campaign. “When I saw a franchisee of an international company gave $2,500 to opponents of equality, I immediately knew I would require someone at the company’s world HQ to address this.”

On Friday, Rogers made three demands of the company, with a Monday deadline:

1. Repudiate the gift.
2. Add sexual orientation and gender identity to the corporation’s non-discrimination policy.
3. Give an equal gift to the opposing side.

At the time of the post, Rogers did not indicate the company, choosing instead to approach the company discreetly over the matter.

 

In a conversation with Rogers today, Subway Director of Corporate Communications Michele DiNello responded to the three demands.

LETTER SENT TO FRANCHISEES WORLDWIDE, GIFT REFUNDED

“We spoke to the franchisee, I have a letter I am going to email you that we are sending out, not only to him, but it occurred to me after chatting with him that there that there may be others who don’t understand what the policy is, so we will be sending to our franchisees and developers — around the world — the policy regarding political donations,” DiNello told Rogers.

“It has been brought to the attention of [Subway parent company] Doctor’s Associates Inc. that you have made a contribution to a politically oriented organization. It is our understanding that you intended this solely as a personal contribution and that you were not intending to make any representation on the part of the SUBWAY® brand,” The company wrote in response to the gift made by a Merced, California location of the chain. The store is located inside the popular Merced Mall. Photo: Denver Prop 8 protest by Nick Cargo.

Explaining the company’s position the letter continued, “You should also be aware that your franchise agreement prohibits your use of the SUBWAY® trademark as part of your business or corporate name. Further, it states that you agree to ‘…not use the Trademark in a manner that degrades, diminishes, or detracts from the goodwill of the business associated with the Trademark’ and ‘to promptly change the manner of such use if requested to do so by us.'”

The franchisee, explained DiNello, has called Yes on 8 and asked for a refund of the gift. The company, she indicated, would have no control if an individual franchisee gave a personal gift to a political cause. The company has a history of contributing to various causes supported by the LGBT community including food for charitable events.

SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER IDENTITY ADDED TO DISCRIMINATION POLICIES

“We are changing the discrimination policy language and that includes anything we add through headquarters human resources, not just in the field,” said DiNello. “The company used the exact language you gave us,” referring to BlogActive’s request to add both ‘sexual orientation and gender identity.'”

“This is a textbook example of how a company should react when they realize that one of its operating units has done something wrong. What was outrageous behavior by one franchisee has resulted in a letter to owners of 30,000 stores and a corporate policy change for the better,” said Rogers, “I am particularly happy that the company added both sexual orientation and gender identity to the list of protected individuals under the corporate non-discrimination policies.

Rogers addressed those critics who said the international chain, with over 30,000 outlets, was the wrong target, when it was the actions of one franchisee that were wrong. “You know, they don’t have any problem associating themselves with the franchisee when the checks roll in,” he replied.

With over 30,000 outlets operating in more than 85 countries, Subway is the second largest food chain worldwide, raking second only to McDonald’s.

On his original blog post, Rogers wrote, “We have a handle — a handle on a spigot of money. Mess with the gays and watch the ‘pink wrath’ slowly twist the spigot until they’re at the table begging for forgiveness.” At Subway the spigot is fully open.

Our Biggest Mistake: Boycotting Sundance

After the Mormon Church, which is based in Salt Lake City, funneled $15 million into the “Yes on 8” Campaign, I was very much in favor of boycotting Utah.  The Sundance Film Festival boycott?  Not a chance!  Yes, I realize that 2004’s festival dumped $22 million into Utah’s financial bucket.  But boycotting Sundance was a poorly thought out, knee jerk reaction.  A boycott of the indie film maker festival would be like shooting ourselves in the foot.

Sundance began in 1978 in Salt Lake City, fueled by the dream of actor/director Robert Redford.  It was specifically designed to boost and showcase indie films.  In 1981 the 10-day festival moved to Park City, Utah and launched the Sundance Institute with programs such as the Filmmakers/Directors Lab.  By 1984 it had expanded into theatre with the Playwrights Lab. 

From the origins of the festival, Sundance has embraced GLBT films.  The lesbian romance classic, Desert Hearts, won honorable mention in 1985, Longtime Companion, won 1990’s Audience Award, Go Fish was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize in 1994, Trick premiered at the festival in 1999 and in 2001 we saw a double winner (Audience Award and Directing) for John Cameron Mitchell’s Hedwig and the Angry Inch.  Many of the films showcased at Sundance won a place in After Elton’s 50 Greatest Gay Films.

GLBT documentaries have also won many awards at the festival.  In 1995 the unforgettable The Celluloid Closet was featured and in 2006 Small Town Gay Bar was a nominee.  AIDS themed documentaries have also been featured, such as the gut-wrenching Absolutely Positive in 1991.

To continue highlighting and promoting GLBT films, Sundance partnered with GLAAD to create the Queer Lounge in 2004.  For more details visit Queer Lounge.

It’s certainly too late to ask Sundance to move out of Utah, the festivals just 8 weeks away.  And it would be too costly for both the festival and the institute to move at all.  So yes, boycott Utah, but not Sundance.  Stock up on food and gas at the border and sleep in your car, but still head to the festival which has embraced the GLBT community for 25 years.

HAPPY 25TH ANNIVERSARY, SUNDANCE!

Boycott: List of Businesses Which Supported Prop 8

A link to businesses that supported Prop 8.

Use your voting dollars!  Don’t support those that supported removing your rights!

Kicking A Lion

The Time Is Now

 

 

We have seen what can happen when a band of people join together. We have seen people rise up from being suppressed. We have seen people go against social oppression. One woman in 1955 refused to give up her seat on a bus, and now in 2008 a Black President has been elected. We have seen a group of people persevere due to hope. With hope and persistence, we too can educate people and change society.

They have kicked a lion, now hear us roar.

 

Demand respect. In California on election day 2008 a 63% majority passed Proposition 2 which, “creates a new state statute that prohibits the confinement of farm animals in a manner that does not allow them to turn around freely, lie down, stand up, and fully extend their limbs”. Yet, on the same day, 52% of the voters stripped us of basic human rights; the right to marry someone we live.

Are we humans, or are we chickens?

 

We have a proud history. In 1969 a group of strong people refused to quietly be arrested for simply enjoying themselves at a small bar called Stonewall. This began the gay rights movement, and it is now our responsibility to carry the torch they lit. They refused to be bullied, and it is our obligation to look back to Stonewall and gather our forces together to begin demanding Equality in every aspect of our lives.

Nineteen of our United States lack basic hate crimes laws to protect the GLBT community. Many more states lack laws that protect the GLBT community from discrimination in housing and employment. To be treated with true Equality, this must change. And we must be the force to change it.

What you can do to help:

 

1) Get educated. Know the political issues facing our Community. Good information is available at: The Task Force,  Gay Life, Lambda, or your local GLBT Community Center. Then, educate others.

2) Get Out! Be out to everyone. It’s hard to hate someone with a face. Believe me, I know telling the folks isn’t easy. I refer to my Coming Out Day as the “Day Dad Put His Foot Through The TV”. PFLAG has resources to help.

3) Get involved. Volunteer your time and/or donate money. HRC is a good place to start.

4) Get vocal. Don’t allow people at work, or in clubs and groups to make gay slurs or “jokes”.

5) Write to your elected officials voicing your concerns over your rights.

How to support Gay Marriage

1) Donate to www.invalidateprop8.org

2) Join a march.

3) Write a letter to President Obama reminding him of who helped him get elected and that he needs to take our fight to the national level.

4) Sign the petition on this link: http://www.petitiononline.com/seg5130/petition.html

5) Boycott straight weddings.

6) Order a “Can I Vote On Your Marriage?” bumper sticker from: http://www.zazzle.com/can_i_vote_on_your_marriage_now_bumpersticker-128446202661896802

We were defeated once. But we will never give up the fight! The Mormon Church funneled $15 million dollars into the Yes on Prop 8 campaign. They forced us to make this Call To Arms. Fight back. Write letters to their church leaders expressing your frustration at their ignorance. And, support the grass roots movement to strip the Mormon Church of their tax-exemption. MormonsStoleOurRights.

We have a chance. The time is now. Make a difference. Make a change. Demand your rights!