Family advocacy group announces Pepsi boycott (OneNewsNow.com)

Family advocacy group announces Pepsi boycott

Allie Martin and Jody Brown - OneNewsNow - 1/12/2009 8:45:00 AM

Pepsi The American Family Association (AFA) is calling for a boycott of PepsiCo over its support of pro-homosexual groups.

In October, AFA twice wrote officials with PepsiCo, requesting a meeting to discuss the company's role in the culture war. AFA wished the company would remain neutral, neither supporting nor opposing the homosexual agenda. But according to the AFA, Pepsi has given millions to homosexual-friendly groups and causes. In an Action Alert to its supporters on January 8, the pro-family group cited instances in which the soft drink conglomerate gave half-a-million dollars to two separate pro-homosexual groups -- the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), and Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG). According to that Action Alert, the $1 million was to be used to "help promote homosexuality in the workplace."

In addition, according to AFA, Pepsi "forces" its employees to attend sexual orientation and gender-identity diversity training "where they are taught to accept homosexuality."

In a November 2008 response from Pepsi's public policy director, Paul Boykas, the company acknowledged its grant to PFLAG for an initiative designed to "promote further understanding and equality" in the workplace -- something he said is in line with the values promoted by the PepsiCo Foundation, which awarded the grant.

Randy Sharp, special projects director with AFA, claims Pepsi has not addressed the company's support of the homosexual agenda, and says it is time the company feels heat from Christian consumers.

Randy Sharp AFA "We're asking people, number one, not to buy these products; and number two, and more importantly, to let Pepsi know that they're joining the boycott by going [online] and signing the boycott pledge," he explains.

Both HRC and PFLAG supported efforts in California to defeat Proposition 8, a voter initiative amending that state's constitution to define marriage as the union of one man and one woman. Prop. 8 passed in November with 52 percent of the vote.

Pepsi products includes numerous flavors and versions of its signature drink as well as other recognizable names as Mountain Dew, Sierra Mist, Mug Root Beer, Gatorade, Lipton Green Tea, Dole juices, and Aquafina water.