It’s pride month, and some big companies are celebrating by diversifying the narratives and characters of their television advertising. Not everyone appreciates the new look.
Eliel Cruz reports in an article on the Religion News Service that Franklin Graham woke up Friday with the revelation that he need not support businesses that support marriage equality.
“Every day it is something else! Tiffany’s started advertising wedding rings for gay couples. Wells Fargo bank is using a same-sex couple in their advertising,” Franklin said on his Facebook.
“And there are more. But it has dawned on me that we don’t have to do business with them….. This is one way we as Christians can speak out—we have the power of choice. Let’s just stop doing business with those who promote sin and stand against Almighty God’s laws and His standards. Maybe if enough of us do this, it will get their attention.”
Cruz points out the irony of Graham using Facebook, an LGBT-supportive company, to promote his boycott.
This week, Graham put his money where his mouth is and announced that he is moving the accounts of the Billy Graham Evangelical Association and Samaritan’s Purse out of Wells Fargo. The Charlotte Observer quotes from an interview Graham gave Monday:
[Graham] said he was not targeting companies that hire or serve gay and lesbian customers. “There’s lots of businesses out there that do business with gay people,” he said. “That’s fine.”
He wants Christians to stop giving their money to businesses, such as Wells Fargo and Tiffany jewelers, “that use shareholders’ advertising dollars to promote homosexuality. … It’s promoting a godless lifestyle. … A bank should be promoting the best interest rates they’re going to give me and what they can do for me as a business. But they should not be trying to get into a moral debate and take sides.”
In an update to his article, Cruz voices concern that Graham might have jumped out of the frying pan and into the fire by selecting BB&T to receive the accounts pulled from Wells Fargo.
Apparently, Graham didn’t check to see BB&T’s stance on LGBT equality. The bank has an 80% on the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index and has even hosted a same-sex wedding reception earlier this year.
The Charlotte Observer headline: “Franklin Graham moving accounts to BB&T, which sponsored Miami Beach gay pride fundraiser.”
Cruz also offers a helpful list of 30 big LGBT-friendly businesses for the convenience of those supporting a boycott – or not.
Do you shop based on the political persuasions of the companies that serve you? Does your faith advise your spending? How effective do you think “shopping your values” can be?