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Don’t Mess with Bloggers |
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Friend of The Seminal Mike Rogers had a major victory last night.
“One down and many more to go,” said Mike Rogers of BlogActive.com in response to the successful result of pressure on the fast food chain Subway after it was disclosed that a franchisee gave $2,500 to the Yes on 8 campaign. Yes on 8 was successful in removing marriage equality from California’s state constitution.Rogers found the contribution on a list of Yes on 8 contributors compiled by the Human Rights Campaign. “When I saw a franchisee of an international company gave $2,500 to opponents of equality, I immediately knew I would require someone at the company’s world HQ to address this.”
On Friday, Rogers made three demands of the company, with a Monday deadline:
1. Repudiate the gift.
2. Add sexual orientation and gender identity to the corporation’s non-discrimination policy.
3. Give an equal gift to the opposing side.
Due to the way Rogers handled the situation, Subway gave in to his demands.
“We are changing the discrimination policy language and that includes anything we add through headquarters human resources, not just in the field,” said DiNello. “The company used the exact language you gave us,” referring to BlogActive’s request to add both ’sexual orientation and gender identity.’”“This is a textbook example of how a company should react when they realize that one of its operating units has done something wrong. What was outrageous behavior by one franchisee has resulted in a letter to owners of 30,000 stores and a corporate policy change for the better,” said Rogers, “I am particularly happy that the company added both sexual orientation and gender identity to the list of protected individuals under the corporate non-discrimination policies.
No wonder they call him the most feared man on the hill. Congrats, Mike!
Lisa has more at the FDL Campaign Silo.
I’m glad this story has a happy ending. A friend of mine sent a letter to CEO of WKS Restaurant Corp, which owns Corner Bakery, Pollo Loco and Dennys. They also gave to Yes on Prop 8. You can check out her letter here. It’s quite awesome.
http://skitch.com/v-ru/5a8r/gmail-for-mr-spongberg-victoriaruan-gmail. com
kind of a dick move to just move in and start making demands
I’m single, dont know how to cook etc. Ill eat @ a subway till the end of the week.
Rogers did more harm than good, in my opinion.
The cause might be right, but the tactics are stupid… just the same as the homophobes use.
Respectfully, celebrating this as a victory is self-defeating.
Correct me if I’m wrong, I’ll listen:
http://www.franchisepick.com/subway-smacked-by-the-terrifying-pink-han dbag-of-wrath/
Yep, that’s about where you go wrong. It’s one thing to be cowed into hiding legitimate political views, but it’s another to be shamed into hiding your hatred. We rightly bully racists and sexists into silence in our society, because we find those views to odious to be allowed legitimacy. Same issue here. Prop 8 is an amendment that promotes discrimination and hate, and it has no place in a civilized society.
So bully tactics are completely warranted, though, as you say, getting more donations to the other side may have been a missed opportunity.
Prop 8 is an amendment that promotes discrimination and hate, and it has no place in a civilized society.
So bully tactics are completely warranted, though, as you say, getting more donations to the other side may have been a missed opportunity.
Sorry to break it to you, but you lost on Prop 8. Spend your time winning support for your cause, not bullying those who disagree with you.