McDonald's Dishonest About Pro-Gay Stance, Group Claims
A Christian activist group is rebuking McDonald's for not facing up to its record of continued support and endorsement of homosexuality.
"McDonald's is still trying to distort their support for the homosexual agenda by twisting words," the America Family Association (AFA) alleged in a statement.
In late March, the nation's largest fast-food chain drew a stream of controversy after the company's vice president of communications 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."
Get Our Latest News for FREE
Although McDonald's claims that the move represented an action by a sole individual, AFA has stood against the assertion.
"While McDonald's says it is not a member of the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, the NGLCC website proudly lists them as a 'Corporate Partner and Organizational Ally,'" AFA noted.
What casts even more doubt, according to the AFA, is a $20,000 donation McDonald's handed over to the NGLCC.
The donation, which was approved by Richard Ellis, the vice president of communications, all but confirmed the resolve of AFA.
"[McDonald's] [claims] that Richard Ellis, was elected to the NGLCC board as a private citizen and not a representative of McDonald's," the AFA noted. "Yet, Richard Ellis is listed on the NGLCC website as Vice President of Communications, McDonald's USA."
While one lone act of endorsing homosexuality may be forgiven, the AFA pointed out that the recent move by McDonald's was hardly an isolated incident.
In 2007, McDonald's reportedly boasted of its support for gay couples in a television ad when it sponsored the San Francisco Gay Pride parade, the AFA said.
"Giving money to and partnering with a homosexual lobby organization is certainly an enthusiastic promotion of the homosexual agenda," the group concluded.
Back in April, Don Wildmon, founder and chairman of AFA, suggested that a boycott on McDonald's products was a "possibility" if the company would not rectify its actions, according to Baptist Press. It remains to be seen, however, how McDonald's will continue to react and face up to the accusations concerning its alleged history of endorsing homosexuality.
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."
