Would you patronize a known homophobic business?

Question

Some background information: One of the best-known boycott of the LGBTQ community was with the Coors Brewing Company starting back in 1973 for their practice of a polygraph test which included a question about one’s sexual orientation. Since then, the Coors Brewing company has since made several attempts to counter this boycott. How important is it for us as members of the LGBTQ community to know that the businesses we patronize does not support homophobic causes? Where do we draw the line?

Answer 1

I will not patronize a business that practices homophobic behavior. Even further, I occasionally review the list of LGBT friendly companies on HRC

http://www.hrc.org/Template.cfm?Section=Get_Informed2&Template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=33909

so I can make purchases from companies that treat their LGBT employees fairly.

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Rebuttal to Jello: It is not the same. Those Christian groups are boycotting Disney for NOT discriminating. The Christians want Disney to discriminate.

Answer 2

I think it is extremely important for us as members of the LGBTQ community to know the businesses we patronize don't support our causes. I was raised against discrimination of any kind, so I would in general boycott a company for being discriminatory in the first place. I think it is wrong and uncalled for. It makes me angry that the Coors Brewing Company would do that...and if I drank beer (Which I don't) I certainly wouldn't drink theirs!!!

Answer 3

I would not patronize a known homophobic business and would encourage anyone I know to do the same.

I feel so strongly about this that I would probably change the channel is one of their ads came on the TV. This may seem silly to some people but it all is a matter of mind set that discrimination can never be tolerated. Would you invite someone into your living room that is known to be determined to hold you back, or holds you in contempt?

Discrimination based on race is not tolerated in modern society and the same rights should be extended to people of different beliefs or sexual orientation.

Where do we draw the line? At the finish. When society no longer allows any business or anyone to publicly discriminate again LGBTQ or be allow to be made the brunt of jokes or ridicule in any public forum.

There is only one way to force these business to change their ways and that is to hit them where it will hurt the most, the wallet.

Answer 4

Only if what I wanted could only be obtained through them and it was something that I absolutely HAD to have. As that has never happened and probably never will, I don't see it ever happening at all. I really think that this would NEVER happen. I've found out that certain businesses that I used to patronize did not "jive" with what I thought after I had already made transactions and supplied an easy solution to not doing business with them - I don't go there anymore.

This makes me wonder if you have ever actually encountered such a business, and if so, who? Perhaps as a straight guy I'm not as aware of this as you might be. If I were you, I'd boycott them until they changed their tune.

Answer 5

Let's take it one step further. If a business is a "known homophobic business" then I would take steps to make sure they know that they are not getting my business and then show them by coping receipts from other businesses that sell the same products. Making positive sure they have lost business because of their stand.

I have done this to many business and you would be surprised how quickly a $500. receipt that shows line for line the prices I paid and their own prices brought a change in the way that business viewed its homophobic stance.

As for Coors Piss water. I like the skunk piss one too.

Answer 6

I think that it comes down to that person's preference. Boycotts can be effective, but they can also backfire.

One also must take into consideration that while boycotting a business or company, that they just may be a small portion of the much larger corporation. This could effect someone personally from the kind of food they purchase at the grocery store, personal hygiene products, to the movie you go to see or the television show you watch at home.

If someone is very socially and politically aware, it might be an easier thing for them to boycott. But I think the average Joe, wouldn't be as educated as his more knowledgeable counterpart.

I no longer boycott business or organizations. There is always someone that works for one of these places, that needs my economic contribution in order to sustain their family. And there are always those members of the LGBT community that work for such companies, ie. Coors. I wouldn't want anyone taking food from off my table, and I'm sure that the view of the company or corporation isn't always that of the employees....therefore I don't think that it's fair for them to suffer for someone else's ignorance.

Just my thoughts...

Answer 7

I don't know that boycotts are always effective at changing behavior of offending groups.

If the business were one that offered a service I needed, and I had no other option---I live in a small town---then I would not have much of a choice, they would have to be who I dealt with for that service.

If I have a choice, then of course, I would support a business that is more in line with all (or as many as possible) of my beliefs and values.

Answer 8

first of all, I'm not so sure boycotts do much of anything. I recall some right wing christian grop boycotted Disney for like 10 years over their gay-friendly practices, and it never got them anywhere.

So, in general, I so not support boycotts. However, if it's a glaring issue, one that stands out and say "we dont like gays", then I probably would be in support of a boycott. But, again, with so many different advocate groups out there today, boycotts are a dime a dozen.

Answer 9

No I would not patronize a known homophobic business. If I plan on spending my gay dollars. I usually look in the local gay press and only contact business that advertise in the gay press. If I cannot find any businesses I need in the gay press I go ahead on look for the best deal. I know www.hrc.org does have a corporate index that scores companies on their GLBTQ friendliness. I do not go as far as check that resource.

Answer 10

If I know it's homphobic, yes, I boycott it. The only power I have is to boycott. I also buy stock in said companies, that way I have a voice, albeit a small one. If enough people do that, we can change things.

Answer 11

It's the only thing that will stop homophobia. The same as the blacks did in the 1960s.

I would have to do business with a homophobia company if there wasn't another alternative close-by i could use.

This is why i work for Amnesty international's project Outfront. We work with all kinds of LGBT issues.