PepsiCo, Levi's Go All Out To Support Gay Causes: Are You Impressed?

(Getty Images) I have friends who rail against the evils of corporate America all the time (and I do, too, on occasion), but if I could wrap my arms around corporate America today and give it a big hug, I would. That's because two big companies—PepsiCo and Levi Strauss & Co.—have lent their support to major gay causes in recent days.

Let's start with PepsiCo. The PepsiCo Foundation, which oversees the company's charitable donations, just gave $500,000 to PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays). Yes, $500,000! The money will be used to fund PFLAG's Straight for Equality program, which is aimed at encouraging straight people who might not have a direct connection to the gay and lesbian community through a family member to join the cause for gay rights.

(Getty Images) Meanwhile, The Mercury News reports that San Francisco-based jeans maker Levi Strauss & Co. will join utility company Pacific Gas & Electric in co-chairing a group trying to build opposition to California's Proposition 8 within the business community. (As you know, Proposition 8 aims to ban gay marriage in California.) Additionally, Levi's has donated $25,000 to Equality for All, which is working for the defeat of Prop 8.

FYI: Levi's was actually the first Fortune 500 company to offer health benefits to the domestic partners of its unmarried employees.

While I am already a Pepsi drinker (the company also makes everything from Fritos to Tropicana orange juice to Quaker oatmeal), I don't own any Levi's, but I plan to add a pair to my fall wardrobe. I want to support companies that support us.

It shouldn't be taken for granted. In fact, I'd say their support is brave even in this day and age. Look at how companies like Kraft, Wells Fargo and Wal-Mart have been attacked by anti-gay groups for supporting gay causes in recent years.

What do you think of PepsiCo and Levi's efforts on behalf of the gay and lesbian community? Do you appreciate it, and do you go out of your way to buy the products of companies that support us?

Comments

[Annie Peg]

I am against gay/lesie rights. God created a man and a woman in the garden of Eden. He didn't create two men or two women. This is against God's intended creation. The Devil really has a hold on the human race. You seem to be allowing him to rule your life. I will no longer be using any of these companies products and will be spreading the word to other God-fearing people about this. This kind of action must stop. God will only put up with this so long and He will destroy the earth just as He did Sodom and Gomorrah for all their evil acts. "God, please help our nation and the world." AMEN

[Lucas Czernkowitz]

Dear miss Annie Peg,
Mine religion teacher thought us that the garden of eden, noa's ark, and basically all of those other stories in the Holy Bible were INVENTED to allude us to think about other similar things that are happening in our lives. Those stories are NOT true happenings, you should know that as the leaders from Vatican claimed that.
I should probably mention that i belong to Roman Catholic Church and that I live in Croatia.
You know, I believe in faith, hence i believe that everything that happened or happens is the right thing, so is the homosexuality, even the terrorism. You should worry though, 'cause the gay movement can easily become very similar to terrorism. We have people all around the world that are desperate and would do anything they are told.
Think about that. Please.

[Adam webb]

Your "religious teacher" was obviously uneducated and has no grasp of history. The Bible is God's inspired word, nothing in it is made up. It is 100% accurate historically. You are a blinded fool. You seek your love in the wrong place and instead of seeking truth for yourself you just believe what some foolish, ignorant told you in sunday school when you were a child. When i was a child i was misbehaving in sunday school and the teacher said that i was the devil. So i guess i'm the devil now because my teacher said so.

[Lucas Czernkowitz]

Omg, you are silly, do you know that people unlike animals can't reproduce inside their families? If there were only Adam and Eve, and their children reproducing with each other, we would all be retarded right now, and would have many many physical flaws on our body.
You have to remember that the Christianity isn't only religion, many believe in different ways of the homo sapiens showing up in the world.
Are you aware that your religious fanacism is VERY close to the one of most terrorists? It is scary really.

[Sondra]

Adam Web said, "You are a blinded fool."

He also said, "The Bible is God's inspired word, nothing in it is made up."

Perhaps he should take a little peek at Matthew 5:22

Better watch out, Adam.

Oh and by the way, "instead of seeking truth for yourself you just believe what some foolish, ignorant told you in sunday school when you were a child."

Pot meet kettle.

Perhaps you should also take a peek in the dictionary to review the definition of irony.