Facebook is the problem. Well, maybe not. But it’s really easy for two things to happen because of the Internet, computers and social media. The first thing: It’s really easy for a company like Kraft Foods to photoshop a picture of an Oreo cookie to create a buzz. The second thing is that it is easy for people to demonstrate how bigoted they are. Don’t think people can be bigoted, do you? Check out this Buzzfeed article and read the comments.
Now, true, I boycott Chick Fil-A. You could call me a hypocrite, except Kraft is showing support for a group of people that are struggling to have equal rights under the law. Chick Fil-A are buttholes.
History is on the side of the open-minded. Companies have every right to celebrate and show their support of the LGBT community. It’s becoming a popular move.
Oreo is only the latest in a line of high-profile brands that have proclaimed their support for the LGBT community through various ad campaigns. A line of gay pride t-shirts launched by Target sold out in less than a month, while Ben & Jerry’s ice cream has renamed two different flavors in honor of marriage equality: “Apple-y Ever After,” an apple pie ice cream sold in the U.K. during debates over same-sex marriage legalization, and “Hubby Hubby,” a version of the “Chubby Hubby” flavor that premiered when same sex marriage was legalized in Vermont in 2009. Department store JCPenney has drawn significant criticism from conservative groups such as One Million Moms for a recent series of ads featuring gay and lesbian parents. The clothing purveyor made headlines last year for recruiting openly gay talk show host Ellen DeGeneres as its spokesperson. One Million Moms, which has 47,825 “likes” on its Facebook page, launched a boycott of the store.
It’s nice that, you know, there’s a picture supporting LGBT rights. But, I wonder how many States would have Marriage Equality if these companies, instead of a few cool pictures and an ad campaign, donated a butt-ton of money to Marriage Equality groups in States like North Carolina. Don’t talk about it. Be about it. And to people who want to “boycott” Oreo cookies because of a picture and a nod of support: There’s nothing I can say to convince you how wrong you are and, honestly, it’s a waste of my time.
