NGLCC Severs Ties With McDonalds Over Anti-Gay Remarks

I commented on Wednesday on McDonald's Chief of Operations, Don Thompson's, homophobic eruption and expressed my own intention of avoiding McDonalds since the corporation obviously doesn't want my money. As I interpreted Thompson's comments, Thompson believes that gays are not living in keeping with his bigoted Christian beliefs and that, as a result, we are somehow too dirty and immoral to be mentioned - indeed, even recognized as existing - in his corporation's advertisements. The photo at left is from a French McDonald's ad that Thompson says will never air in the USA. Seems that I'm not the only one who is not amused by Thompson's anti-gay bigotry and statements that by inference denigrate gay lives and relationships. The National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce NGLCC (of which HRBOR is an affiliate) has severed all ties to McDonald's in light of the homophobia that haunts the corporation's senior management. Here are some highlights from Huffington Post on the NGLCC's action:

*

A couple weeks ago, McDonald's, France, released a gay-friendly commercial that encouraged patrons to "come as you are." The ad, which created a lot of buzz (mostly in America, where it wasn't -- and as we learn below, won't be -- aired), got a reception from McDonald's execs in America that was colder than day-old fries.

*

In response to Thompson's comments, the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce -- the largest GLBT business group in the country with 1.4 million businesses -- has severed their relationship with McDonald's, writing in a letter:

We strongly believe that McDonald's plan to distance itself from LGBT and other diverse business segments, coupled with the release of the French TV ad, is ill advised and counter to the spirit of good business and sound ethics. We sincerely hope that McDonald's will reconsider its position and that the company will again show its support for LGBT people, our families and our businesses -- not just where it is politically expedient, but around the globe.

Barring a significant change in policy on the part of McDonald's, please consider this letter as official notice that the NGLCC will not accept future support or membership by McDonald's or any of its subsidiaries.

*

A poll on the Huffington Post story reflects that some 70+% of readers believe that Thompson's statements were homophobic. I hope that Thompson's bigotry ends up carrying a noteworthy price.