Pepsi Funnels Money to Homosexual Movement

by   Erin roach                                                                                                                                        Vol. XXII, No. 6, June/July 2009

The American Family Association is calling on PepsiCo to remain neutral in the culture war after noting that Pepsi is the leading corporate sponsor of a pro-homosexual activist group. AFA also is asking its supporters to boycott Pepsi.

The activist group, called Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG), is working to undo the progress being made by another group, Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays and Gays (PFOX), AFA said in e-mail alert March 25.

"By issuing national press releases against PFOX, by organizing protests at ex-gay conferences, by publishing anti-ex-gay literature, and by opposing ex-gays equal access to public venues, Pepsi-supported Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays contributes to the intolerance of the ex-gay community, stereotypes former homosexuals, and continually misrepresents PFOX's mission," the e-mail from Don Wildmon, AFA's chairman, said.

Wildmon also said PFLAG was "vociferous in its opposition" to California's Proposition 8, which sought to restore traditional marriage in the state last November.

"By funding PFLAG, PepsiCo and its shareholders help promote fear and hostility against the ex-gay community and other heterosexuals. PepsiCo is the leading corporate sponsor of PFLAG," Wildmon said.

"Clearly, PepsiCo has no intentions of being neutral in the culture war. Instead, PepsiCo has thrown their entire influence behind the homosexual movement," he said. "Some shareholders will introduce a resolution in the upcoming PepsiCo meeting, asking it to be neutral in the culture war."

As of March 27, PepsiCo had not responded to the AFA boycott on its corporate website.

On an AFA website called boycottpepsico.com, the pro-family organization said Pepsi "has made no effort to hide their support for the homosexual agenda," and AFA lists some examples.

Pepsi gave a total of $1 million to the Human Rights Campaign and PFLAG to support the homosexual lifestyle in the workplace, AFA said, and HRC in turn gave $2.3 million to defeat Proposition 8.

AFA said Pepsi requires employees to attend sexual orientation and gender diversity training where employees are taught to accept homosexuality, and Pepsi is a member of the controversial National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce which got McDonald's in hot water with pro-family supporters.

Employing a method that most recently was successful with McDonald's, AFA is asking supporters to sign a Pepsi boycott pledge and to avoid purchasing products from PepsiCo companies which include Gatorade, Quaker, Frito Lay, and Tropicana. [BP]