National Gay & Lesbian Chamber Of Commerce Cuts Ties With McDonald's

The National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce has sent a blistering letter (PDF) to McDonald's cutting their ties with them, perhaps partially in response to COO Donald Thompson's "I am a Christian" statement about the company's ad in France.

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. Additionally, please note that we will answer any questions about this communication, the past relationship between our organizations or any other questions by members of the NGLCC, the media or other interested parties with nothing less than factual and accurate information based on our communications and experiences with McDonald’s and its representatives.

The NGLCC says they represent the interests of about 1.4 million LGBT-owned business in the United States. Read their entire letter.

Today: NGLCC Rings Closing Bell At NYSE

Representatives of the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce will ring the stock market's closing bell today in recognition of Pride Month. The market closes at 4pm.

For one special day, the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce®, NYSE Euronext, NGLCCNY, Members of Congress, other LGBT advocacy organizations, and corporate champions will gather at The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) - to celebrate the global launch of LGBT Pride Month. From Stonewall to Federal Hall will take place on Friday, June 5, 2009, and will commemorate the 40th Anniversary of the Stonewall Riots that led to the push for equal rights for LGBT people. The event will include the ringing of the NYSE Closing Bell by the NGLCC, a symposium discussion on the LGBT movement in the 40 years since Stonewall followed by an exclusive cocktail reception on the NYSE Trading Floor. “We are honored to take part in the grand tradition of ringing the Closing Bell for the second time – and to pay tribute to those that have come before us and will come after us in the fight for LGBT equality,” said NGLCC Co-Founder and President Justin Nelson. “The LGBT movement has come a long way in 40 years, and there is no more fitting place than the seat of the financial world to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, and to look ahead to tomorrow,” said NGLCC Co-Founder and CEO Chance Mitchell.

Has any other openly gay group run the NYSE bell, or is this a historic first?

Wingnuts Call Off Boycott, Did McDonald's Cave?

Via Good As You comes this press release from the American Family Association:

McDonald's has told AFA they will remain neutral in the culture war regarding homosexual marriage. AFA is ending the boycott of McDonald's. As you know, AFA called for the boycott in May after McDonald's joined the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC).

McDonald's said McDonald's Vice President Richard Ellis has resigned his position on the board of NGLCC and that his seat on the board will not be replaced. McDonald's also said that the company has no plans to renew their membership in NGLCC when it expires in December.

In an e-mail to McDonald's franchised owners the company said, "It is our policy to not be involved in political and social issues. McDonald's remains neutral on same sex marriage or any 'homosexual agenda' as defined by the American Family Association."

We appreciate the decision by McDonald's to no longer support political activity by homosexual activist organizations. You might want to thank your local McDonald's manager.

As Jeremy at Good As You notes, the AFA has a track record of calling off a failed boycott and lying that the targeted company had agreed to the their demands. (As they did with Ford, who said they never stipulated to anything requested by the AFA.). More on this when I get it.

UPDATE: I've spoken to the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce and they will be giving me a statement, hopefully later today.

UPDATE II: The NGLCC says they know nothing of the AFA's claims.

Like all our corporate relationships, McDonald’s USA has been a good partner with the Chamber. There has been no discussion between the NGLCC and McDonalds regarding continuing membership, nor has the NGLCC been notified of any move not to renew our work together. The NGLCC will continue to align with corporate America in support of equal opportunity for all of America’s worker and small businesses.

Either the NGLCC got blindsided by their own vice president or the American Family Association is LYING. Again.

Wingnuts Launch McDonald's Boycott

The American Family Association has launched a boycott against McDonald's (with its own website, no less) in protest that an openly gay McDonald's executive has joined the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. From the site:

What the boycott of McDonald's IS NOT about

• This boycott is not about hiring homosexuals.
• It is not about homosexuals eating at McDonald's.
• It is not about how homosexual employees are treated.

What the boycott of McDonald's IS about

It is about McDonald's, as a corporation, refusing to remain neutral in the culture wars. McDonald's has chosen not to remain neutral but to give the full weight of their corporation to promoting the homosexual agenda, including homosexual marriage.

Here's a commercial that McDonald's ran last year in support of San Francisco Pride, which the AFA has posted on their boycott site.

The AFA's site provides a petition for fellow wingnuts to sign and deliver to their local McDonald's outlets. Me, I having a Big Mac for lunch.

Wingnutters Go After McDonalds

Via Good As You, here's the flyer produced by the Family Research Council in their attack on McDonald's for joining the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce.The FRC wants the flyer printed up and handed to managers at McDonalds outlets because:

Apparently, serving McFlurries and Big Macs to the public is no longer enough to satisfy the hunger of McDonald's to make a cultural impact on the United States. Sadly, McDonald's is now financing attacks on marriage and the family as a new Corporate Partner of the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC).

The NGLCC promotes businesses owned by homosexuals, but it also pushes the homosexual political agenda in statehouses, courthouses, and the halls of Congress. Thought crime ("hate crime") laws, homosexual and transgender "civil rights" preferences, and domestic partner benefits are top-priority issues of the NGLCC.

Richard Ellis, Vice President of Communications for McDonald's, was recently named to the Board of Directors of the NGLCC. In a press release, the NGLCC praised Ellis for his "vast Board experience with LGBT and advocacy related organizations." It's alarming that the overseer of McDonald's advertising campaigns directly geared toward families will now be a leader in the NGLCC's campaign to weaken traditional values. The NGLCC's efforts on behalf of homosexuality threaten the family, the definition of marriage and the very religious freedom we hold so dear.

McDonald's Goes Gay

Keep in mind that this item is from WingNutDaily, under the headline "McDonald's Signs Onto 'Gay' Agenda":

McDonald's restaurant's, famed for the Golden Arches, Ronald McDonald and kids meals, has signed onto a nationwide effort to promote "gay" and "lesbian" business ventures. The company, which is listed on the website of the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce as a "corporate partner and organization ally" for an undisclosed financial contribution, also recently placed one of its executives on the NGLCC board of directors.

Earlier this month, the chamber confirmed that Richard Ellis, vice president of communications of McDonald's USA, was elected to the special interest chamber board. "We could not be more delighted with the addition of Richard to the Board," said NGLCC co-founder Justin Nelson. "Richard brings his extensive experience in communications and public affairs to a dynamic team of leaders."

Said Ellis: "I'm thrilled to join the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce team and ready to get to work. 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."

According to the linked story, McDonald's and the NGLCC are refusing the reveal whether the corporation has made a financial contribution to the chamber. The McDonald's logo now appears on the chamber's web page listing corporate partners.

Last year Wal-Mart joined the chamber, prompting protests at hundreds of their stores and calls for a boycott from the American Family Association, causing Wal-Mart to back down somewhat from their previous statement of support. Let's see how McDonald's reacts to the coming storm.