IFI in the News: Crain's Chicago Business on Kraft, Harris Bank Sponsoring 'Gay Games'
5/22/2005 10:06:00 PM
By Illinois Family Institute
Dear IFI readers,
Illinois Family Institute is making progress in our effort to draw attention to corporations that celebrate and support homosexuality in Illinois. Crain's Chicago Business, the leading authority on business in Chicagoland, reports on our effort to highlight Illinois companies sponsoring the "Gay Games." Crain's reports that Kraft Foods gave $25,000 to the homosexuality "games," and Harris Bank gave $50,000.
Already, I have heard from people who are pulling major accounts from Harris Bank due to that company's support of the Homosexuality "Games," (beware if you switch: Bank One is also a major supporter of the "gay" movement). Meanwhile, a friend returned a gift certificate to Francesca Restaurants after learning of their sponsorship of the "Gay Games," which will draw homosexuals from all over the world to Chicago next summer.
I myself called Buca di Beppo Restaurants and told them that the LaBarbera family won't be eating there again unless they stop celebrating homosexuality, which is unhealthy, immoral and changeable behavior.
Please get involved in this effort to hold Illinois corporations accountable. The following are the non-homosexual corporate sponsors so far for the Homosexuality "Games" to be held in Chicago in July 2006 (the red companies are based in Illinois):
Kraft Foods: 1-800-323-0768
Harris Bank (with more than 150 Illinois locations): 1-888-340-2265
Bridgeview Bank (with 15 Chicagoland locations): 1-800-794-2070
Buca di Beppo Restaurants (with 5 Chicagoland locations): (612)225-3400; famiglia@bucainc.com
Play It Again Sports (with 10 Chicagoland locations): 1-800-567-6600 (ask for Steve Murphy) winmark.information@winmarkcorporation.com
Francesca Restaurants (with 14 Chicagoland locations): (773)334-8368; info@francescarestaurants.com
Thanks for taking a stand. It doesn't take much to make a difference in the culture, and being apathetic will get us nowhere.
Peter LaBarbera
Executive Director
Illinois Family Institute
Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.
Let all that you do be done in love.
~1 Cor. 16:13-18 (NASB)
The following is Crain's Chicago Business' account of the "Gay Games" controversy:
[You can link to Crain's story here, but you have to be 'subscribed' to their website]
Gay Games will test Kraft, Harris Bank
Boycott threatened against local sponsors
By John T. Slania, Crain's Chicago Business, May 23, 2005
Two conservative Christian groups are targeting Kraft Foods Inc., Harris Bank and other local companies for their sponsorship of "Gay Games VII, a gay and lesbian sporting event to be held in Chicago next summer.
The American Family Association and the Illinois Family Institute say sponsorship of the Gay Games promotes the "immoral homosexual lifestyle." The organizations are urging members to call and write sponsors, asking them to withdraw support. They threaten further action, such as product boycotts and picketing, if the sponsors don't withdraw.
Kraft Foods, headquartered in Northfield, and Chicago-based Harris Bank both say they will continue to support the Gay Games. Two other local sponsors, Bridgeview Bank and Francesca Restaurants, both based in Chicago, decline to comment.
The protest is the latest example of how conservative religious organizations are stepping up the pressure on corporations that support gay-related activities or issues.
Recently, Redmond, Wash.-based Microsoft Corp. withdrew support for a gay rights bill in its home state after facing criticism from a local Christian pastor, then reversed course again and restated its support for the bill. Last fall, Ohio's Procter & Gamble Co. was threatened with a product boycott after the company advertised on gay-oriented television shows such as "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" and "Will & Grace." Procter & Gamble ads soon disappeared from the shows, but the company never acknowledged whether it was the result of the campaign.
'YOU MAY SEE PICKETING'
"Right now, we're encouraging people to call and write. But as we get closer to the games, we may target one of the Kraft products for a boycott. And you may see some picketing or other public demonstrations," says Peter LaBarbera, executive director of Glen Ellyn-based Illinois Family Institute.
Kraft could be vulnerable to a product boycott because it owns so many family-oriented consumer brands, such as Oreo cookies, Oscar Mayer wieners and Kraft Macaroni & Cheese, says Fred Taub, president of Boycott Watch, a Cleveland-based consumer research and consulting firm.
"This might be a major showdown. You're talking about a lot of families spending a lot of dollars. And many of Kraft's products are geared toward families," Mr. Taub says.
It's less clear how a boycott would effect Harris Bank, Bridgeview Bank or Francesca Restaurants, because their products aren't visible on store shelves, Mr. Taub says.
A Kraft spokeswoman wouldn't address the impact of a boycott on the company's sales, but says Kraft has "no plans to change our sponsorship." Kraft contributed $25,000 to Gay Games VII, says Tracy Baim, co-vice-chair of the event.
A spokeswoman for Harris says its $50,000 sponsorship reflects "the diverse nature of both our customer and our employee base."
While a boycott could cost the sponsors money, a withdrawal would raise the risk of a backlash among gay customers, says Boycott Watch's Mr. Taub. "Companies put themselves in a no-win situation," he says. "If you pull out, you get heat. If you stay in, you get heat."
Join IFI June 8-10 in Our Effort to Protect Marriage in Illinois at One of Our 3 Summer Galas!
 IFI's fundraising galas will feature Phil Burress, architect of the succesful Ohio Marriage Protection Amendment. Burress' and the Ohio marriage coalition's successful campaign is widely credited with drawing pro-family voters to the polls, helping give President Bush an Ohio victory on Election Day.
Proceeds for the galas will go to Illinois Family Institute, helping us achieve our top priority of passing a state constitutional amendment protecting marriage as a union between one man and one woman. Please inform your friends of these events, and thanks for your help:
Wednesday, June 8, 2005: Metro East St. Louis
6:00-8:00 PM - Tickets: $50/person
Thursday, June 9, 2005: Springfield
6:00-8:00 PM - Tickets: $75/person
Friday, June 10, 2005: Columbia Yacht Club (on the deck of the Club Ship Abegweit, overlooking beautiful Lake Michigan) in Chicago
6:30-8:30 PM - Tickets: $100/person
Complimentary Valet Parking Available for this event!
Please make your check out to "Illinois Family Institute" and send it to: IFI c/o Erin, 799 Roosevelt Rd., Suite 3-208, Glen Ellyn, IL 60137. You can also pay by credit card by calling IFI at 630-790-8370. If you have any questions, ask for Erin, or email her at info@illinoisfamily.org.
Please forward this announcement to your friends and coworkers. For more information, click HERE or call IFI's office at 630-790-8370.
Invite Your Pastor to Our Complimentary Pastors' Luncheons June 9 & 10!
IFI is also sponsoring complimentary pastors' luncheons on June 9 in Springfield and June 10 in Wheaton to educate pastors about our marriage protection project. Phil Burress will also be speaking at these luncheons. Please invite your pastor to attend and call IFI to RSVP or for more details.
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