Campbell's Soup Rebuffs Anti-Gay Organization

by Michael Jones · 2008-12-30 06:37:00 UTC
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Campbells SoupSo here's an extra reason to eat Campbell's soup (other than the fact that their Tomato soup is like the best thing on the planet.  With milk, not water!).  Campbell's is rebuffing the American Family Association (AFA) - the vehemently anti-gay organization that has likened homosexuality to pedophilia and incest and thinks LGBT people are destructive - over advertisements that the soup giant has taken out in the LGBT magazine The Advocate.

The advertisements are for Swanson chicken broth, which the Campbell's company owns.  It's the first time that Campbell's has advertised in the LGBT market.  And what do the ads depict that have the AFA so miffed?

Two lesbian parents, and their child.

Ah!  The horror!  But the AFA thinks that ads depicting LGBT families threaten children.  Funny how some groups continue to ignore scientific and sociological research that shows LGBT families provide just as nurturing an environment to children as heterosexual families.

To the credit of Campbell's, they are pushing back hard against the ridiculousness of the AFA.  Here's their official company statement about AFA's call that Campbell's stop "pushing the homosexual agenda":

Our position on this is pretty straightforward. Inclusion and diversity play an important role in our business, and that fact is reflected in our marketing plan.  For more than a century people from all walks for life have enjoyed Campbell's products, and we will continue to try to communicate in ways that are meaningful and relevant to them.

As an added kicker, Campbell's has pledged to run more advertisements in LGBT publications and media.

The AFA isn't slowing down, though.  They've created a page on their Web site where folks can go and kvetch about Campbell's embracing of the "radical gay agenda."  But LGBT rights activists have already bounced back.  They're organizing a write-in campaign to Campbell's to THANK them for taking out the advertisements, and to encourage Campbell's to continue to market to LGBT communities.  So if you're looking to take one last action for equality before 2008 becomes 2009, click here and scroll to the last paragraph.

And as this activist suggested, donate lots of Campbell's soup to your local food pantry or church organization.  That's not only a cool way of supporting Campbell's choice to stand by the LGBT community, it also helps folks in need.

Michael Jones is a Change.org Editor. He has worked in the field of human rights communications for a decade, most recently for Harvard Law School.

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