NOM Responds To Tim Hortons Flap

NOM's Christopher Plante responds to Tim Hortons pulling out their Rhode Island event:

"It's stressful, it's sorrowful, it's saddening," Plante said. "The marriage equality folks are making this a boycott threat. That's sad. It has become our job now to remind Rhode Islanders that this is what's to come." Plante added that the event is apolitical, saying, "It's held by an organization that, whatever you think of our politics, is not religious, we accept folks of all faiths and of no faith." Plante added that the event was not funded through the organization's budget, which is solely dedicated to lobbying and political uses.

(Via - Advocate)

Tim Hortons Pulls Out Of NOM Event

Congratulations! All your emails and phone calls were heard. From the Tim Hortons corporate site:

Recently, Tim Hortons was approached in Rhode Island to provide free coffee and products for a local event, as we do thousands of times a year across Canada and the United States. For 45 years, Tim Hortons and its store owners have practiced a philosophy of giving back to the communities in which we operate. As a company, our primary focus is on helping children and supporting fundraising events for non-profit organizations and registered charities.

For this reason, Tim Hortons has not sponsored those representing religious groups, political affiliates or lobby groups. It has come to our attention that the Rhode Island event organizer and purpose of the event fall outside of our sponsorship guidelines. As such, Tim Hortons can not provide support at the event. Tim Hortons and its store owners have always welcomed all families and communities to its restaurants and will continue to do so. We apologize for any misunderstanding or inconvenience this may have caused.

Suck it, Maggie Gallagher! And thank you, Tim Hortons! I'm sending the company a second note today, this time congratulating them for recognizing NOM for the haters that they are. Feel free to join me.

Tim Hortons Sponsors NOM Event

Tim Hortons, the Canadian doughnut chain with over 500 locations in the U.S., is sponsoring a National Organization for Marriage anti-gay event in Rhode Island, at which the featured speaker will be the reptilian Maggie Gallagher herself. Wesli Dymoke at Providence Daily Dose is floored:

Yes, Tim Hortons. The Dunkin Donuts of Canada. You know, Canada — where same-sex marriage has been legal nationwide since 2005 (and since 2003 in Tim’s home, Ontario). What in the world are they doing sponsoring something like this? Their site says that they support “local initiatives that make a difference” — such as little leagues, Halloween safety, and the like. And that they sponsor community initiatives with a focus on “helping children and supporting fundraising events for non-profit organizations and registered charities.” But not “those representing religious groups [or] political affiliates,” such as.. well, how would you characterise a group like NOM?

Truth Wins Out notes that despite the above-cited corporate rule, donations are often made at the discretion of local franchisees. Contact the Tim Hortons corporate office and let them know how you feel about their Rhode Island outlet's sponsorship of Maggie Gallagher's hate fest.

UPDATE: Tim Hortons has pulled out of NOM's event!