Following the link from the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce's website leads to a promotional for children's Happy Meals at the McDonalds website
Family restaurant puts executive on board of homosexual chamber.
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.”
Before Ellis joined McDonald’s USA, he held the position of vice president of communications and public affairs for McDonald’s in Canada and earlier he was with Weber Shandwick Worldwide (Canada) Inc.
“In addition to being on NGLCC’s board of directors, Ellis is an active member of the board of directors of the AIDS Foundation of Chicago, vice president of the board of directors of the Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research (CANFAR) and an accredited member of the Canadian Public Relations Society ( CPRS) and the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC),” the NGLCC announcement said.
“Richard’s vast board experience with LGBT and advocacy related organizations make him an excellent addition to the board,” said Chance Mitchell, NGLCC chief executive officer. “Richard is going to be a terrific director and we look forward to working with him towards great things.”
McDonald’s officials declined today to return a WND call seeking a comment on the placement of its executive on the “gay” advocacy organization, but did send a subsequent e-mail confirming the corporation’s support for the agenda of the homosexual business lobby.
“McDonald’s is indeed a Corporate Partner and Organizational Ally of NGLCC. Our vice president of U.S. communications, Richard Ellis, was recently elected to its board of directors,” said the brief statement from Heidi M. Barker, senior director of media relations, to WND.
A spokeswoman for NGLCC refused to speak with WND except on “background” when asked about McDonald’s financial contribution to the group. But she did confirm the organization would not release information on its sponsors.
The McDonald's logo is featured on the website of the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, among other well-known companies
WND reported earlier when Wal-Mart joined the NGLCC, and how the corporation’s income later started declining as Christian organizations reacted to the news.
CNN reported that Wal-Mart officials later decided to pursue a lower level of homosexual promotions.
“We are not currently planning corporate-level contributions to GLBT groups,” Mona Williams, the company’s senior vice president of corporate communications, told CNN only months after the issues arose.
The chamber group describes itself as promoting the LGBT community first and always.
Under a “What we do” page is listed a variety of goals, including “disseminate news and information central to the success of LGBT businesses, … ensure increased opportunity and equality for LGBT professionals, … help LBGT businesses gain more procurement opportunities, …. provide strong lobbying efforts for LBGT business causes.”
And it gives credit to sponsors such as McDonald’s for its financial and other support for helping in its work.
“Through the commitment of our corporate partners, the NGLCC has been able to advance the ideas and causes of the LGBT business community,” the chamber said at the top of its list of sponsors.
Christian groups had protested Wal-Mart support for homosexual issues
McDonald’s describes itself as “socially responsible.”
In remarks on its website attributed to “Jim,” McDonald’s CEO Jim Skinner, include, “Being a socially responsible organization is a fundamental part of who we are. We have an obligation to use our size and resources to make a difference in the world … and we do.”
It also boasts: “McDonald’s is the world’s community restaurant. We are proud of our long-standing commitment to a workforce that is diverse. We believe in developing and maintaining a diverse workforce that will strengthen the McDonald’s system. Diversity at McDonald’s is understanding, recognizing and valuing the differences that make each person unique.”
Other corporate sponsors of the NGLCC include expected names such as Coors Light and Kodak, who have been leaders in advocating homosexuality, as well as IBM, Wells Fargo, JPMorganChase, Motorola, Intel, Avis, Pepsico, OfficeMax, Coldwell Banker, as well as dozens of others.
When Wal-Mart joined the NGLCC, Rev. Flip Benham, of Operation Save Wal-Mart, launched a series of protests.
Benham reported later that hundreds of Christian families had gathered at Wal-Mart stores across the country to “bring the Gospel of Christ to the very gates of hell.”
He said hundreds of thousands of pieces of literature were passed out to customers arriving at Wal-Marts, and “many were astonished to find how deeply Wal-Mart had fallen from its biblical principles.”
“The Church came ‘out of the closet’ to attempt to save an old friend. Wal-Mart, a store built upon biblical principles and under the tutelage of Sam Walton, has become an enemy of God,” he said.
American Family Association also had called for a boycott heading into the 2007 Christmas shopping season because of Wal-Mart’s decision to join the chamber.