Pasta firm Barilla boycotted over 'classic family' remarks

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Of course people have the right to disagree with same-sex marriage.

And consumers have the right to reach for a different brand on the shelf. And people who support same sex marriage have the right to attempt to persuade consumers to do precisely that.

The opponents of same-sex marriage in the United States are vocal--but they are a steadily diminishing minority.

The war is over--but like Teruo Nakamura, the holdouts will continue to fight a losing battle.

I personally wont be buying Barilla any longer. There are so many other pastas available, I dont see the point in making money for someone who publically against gay marriage. He said it himself- if the people dont like his advertsiing, they are free to buy a different brand of pasta. So be it.

^But what about the workers - the ones who actually make the product? Are they all homophobic? Are you sure? If they all share the CEO's homophobia, then a boycott is justified. But if even one ordinary production worker - who may be LGBT - then innocent people are being punished for one person's bigotry.

That's like denying recess to an entire class of students because one of them flipped off the teacher.

The CEO is the mouthpiece for the company. If the company dosent support LGBT rights then I feel I have no choice but to boycott their products. I know the workers dont have a choice in the matter, but I cant not in good faith give my hard earned money to a company that thinks LGBT families are less than/inferior to other families. Plus, since Barilla is one of the most profitable pasta companies in the world, I doubt a few thousand people boycotting their products is really going to affect the workers. DO I feel bad for the Boy Scout who is trying to sell popcorn that I have to refuse to buy because of their policies? Yes- I feel bad for saying no to a little boys who has nothing to do with it, but I still wont give my money to the boy scouts, or Salvation Army or Chick Fil-a or any other comapny I know is against the LGBT community.

It would seem that some people want everyone working at Barilla to suffer economic hardship just because the CEO is a jerk.

Would it be fair to boycott all LGBT-made products just because Jeffrey Dahmer was serial killer who raped, murdered and dismembered 17 men and boys from 1978 to 1991?

I'm calling "First World Problem" on this one...

Another Paula Deen... a fresh victim of the increasingly low threshold for "newsworthiness".

Again- I dont think the workers will suffer any economic hardships because I dont think the boycott will make much of a dent in Barrillas profits. As far as boycotting LGBT made product and the Jeffry Dahmer thing- hey if that is how you as a person feel you want to spend (or not spend) your money- I dont really care. You have every right to spend your money with whatever companies you like for whatever reason you like. I may not agree with your decision, but I cant stop you from doing it. The only power as a consumer that I have is where I spent my money. I choose not to spend it on Barilla products. Plain and simple. Oh, and thelibrarian wrote[/u]: Decency and the left are irreconcilable. I find this to be and abrasive and ugly statement. So I am not a decent person because I would rather not spend my money with a company whose policies I dont agree with? Really? So my volunteer work with the local elementary school, the local animal shelter and the Girls Scouts dosent count for anything? My regular contributions to various charities , my work with the local food pantry and visit to the nursing home with my dog dosent make me a decent person? My love and commitment to my wife and daughter to make sure that are well cared for and happy is overlooked because I'm "leftist"? Wow! You have some tough standards to live up to.

Thelibrarian: my problem is that you paint with such a broad brush. I had nothing to do with slaughtering anyone. Not all people who lean left are bad. I'm not saying I'm proud or not to be left of center, I am just saying I think i am a good person, I do good deeds and help others. I dont think boycotting a company that I never really bought much from in the past, makes me indecent on any level.

So if i keep company with 99% right leaning people would you judge me differently? You should be judged by your actions- not your beliefs or accuaintances. Many times they differ greatly.

If he doesn't support it, then he shouldn't be forced to have homosexuality portrayed in his commercials. That said, I don't have a problem with people boycotting them either. I doubt though that enough people care enough to go farther than saying "wow what an idiot. Totally not buying anything from that company again" so it wouldn't make much of a difference.

I don't care if some one is gay,why should anyone care?Like 100% of his employees are straight.