I was deeply disturbed to read recently that Doug DeVos the owner and CEO of Amway had given $500,000 to a known hate group, the National Organization for Marriage (NOM).
NOM has been one of the most virulently anti-LGBT organizations in the country since its formation five years ago; I know, I have been closely following NOM and its donors for over four years. I was responsible for the investigation and prosecution of NOM by both the California (FPPC Case #12/294) and Maine ethics' offices. NOM led both states' anti-gay marriage elections in 2008 and 2009 respectively. In those elections, it appears clear that NOM did not obey state election laws. NOM remains under active investigation in those states.
NOM has funded and run anti-gay marriage campaigns throughout the country since California's Proposition 8 in 2008. Now NOM and its political operative Frank Schubert are at it again. They are funding and running most aspects of the four marriage equality state elections this November in Maine, Maryland, Minnesota and Washington. NOM's goal appears to be harming Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Americans.
NOM Promotes Corporate Neutrality?
NOM has recently taken harsh action against Starbucks and General Mills for supporting full marriage equality in the states where each is headquartered. NOM constantly defends anti-LGBT companies like its ally Chick-fil-A and its owner for hateful and bigoted comments and actions. NOM has that right under our First Amendment and so do we.
We strongly feel that the LGBT community and our families, friends and allies should not support companies like Amway whose owners gave $500,000 to the nation's leading anti-gay marriage hate group, the National Organization for Marriage. We do not want the money that we spend to be used to take our rights away.
After much consideration and discussion, Rights Equal Rights has decided to declare a global boycott of Amway and its parent Alticor. We will work with individuals and other organizations to conduct a world-wide boycott of Amway, Alticor and its sister companies Quixtar Incorporated, Access Group LLC and all of their subsidiaries and other DeVos family owned companies including but not limited to:
Amway - Family of Brands
Atmosphere
Artistry Skin Care Products
Beauty Products Sold Through Amway
Fragrances
iCook
Jewelry and Apparel
Laura Mercier®
Legacy of Clean Home Care Products
Nutrilite Health Products
RéVive
Ribbon
Water Systems Sold Through Amway
XS Food and Beverage Division
Real Estate
DP Fox Ventures, LLC, a diversified management company with interests in real estate, transportation, and sports and entertainment
Access Business Group LLC
Alticor Corporate Enterprises
Interleukin Genetics
Gurwitch Products
Metagenics
Hospitality & Fitness
MVP Sports Clubs in Michigan and Florida
Amway Hotel Corporation
Amway Grand Plaza Hotel
JW Marriott Grand Rapids
Courtyard by Marriott Downtown Grand Rapids
Peter Island Resorts
RDV Sportsplex
Professional Sports
Orlando Magic - National Basketball Association (NBA) Orlando, FL
Grand Rapids Griffins - American Hockey League (AHL) Grand Rapids, MI
Fox Automotive Group
Delta Imports - Porsche, Audi and Subaru, Grand Rapids, MI
Fox Acura - Grand Rapids, MI
Fox Buick GMC - Comstock Park, MI
Fox Ford Mazda - Grand Rapids, MI
Fox Honda - Grand Rapids, MI
Fox Hyundai Kia - Grand Rapids, MI
Fox Nissan - Grand Rapids, MI
Fox Saab - Grand Rapids, MI
Fox Powersports of Kentwood - Aprilia, Arctic Cat, Piaggio, Qlink, Vespa,
Genuine Scooter, MotoGuzzi, Yamaha, Grand Rapids, MI
Fox Shawmut Hills - Can-Am, Sea-Doo, Ski-Doo, Suzuki, Yamaha,
Honda Powersports, Honda Power Equipment, Kawasaki, Grand Rapids, MI
Grand Rapids Harley-Davidson - Hudsonville, MI
Fox Collision Center - Grand Rapids, MI
Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center - Kentwood, MI
Fox Ford Lincoln of Cadillac - Cadillac, MI
Fox Toyota of Cadillac - Toyota, Scion, Cadillac, MI
Fox Grand Traverse - Ford, Lincoln, BMW, Mazda, Traverse City, MI
Mercedes-Benz of Traverse City - Traverse City, MI
Fox Collision Center - Traverse City, MI
Fox Charlevoix - Buick, Cadillac, Chrysler , Dodge , Jeep, RAM, Gem, Charlevoix, MI
Fox Charlevoix Ford - Ford, Lincoln, Charlevoix, MI
Fox Collision Center, Charlevoix, MI
Fox Negaunee GM - Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, Negaunee, MI
Fox Negaunee Chrysler - Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Negaunee, MI
Fox Collision Center - Negaunee, MI
Fox Marquette - Ford, Lincoln, Marquette, MI
You Can Give, but You Can't Hide
We at Rights Equal Rights have conducted four previous boycotts against major donors to NOM and California's Yes on Proposition 8 campaign. We successfully settled two of these boycotts when the companies gave an equal amount to LGBT organizations and changed certain corporate policies. Bolthouse Farms, which was just sold to Campbell Soup for $1.55 billion, was the first to settle. They contributed $110,000 to LGBT organizations to offset its founder's $100,000 donation to Yes on Proposition 8.
Later, Garff Automotive Group of Salt Lake City, Utah which owns 56 car dealerships around the country and has $1.4 billion in annual sales, pledged to contribute a like amount of money to Utah LGBT organizations to offset the contribution of $100,000 from the family of company president Robert Garff to the Yes on Proposition 8 campaign. Both companies have continued their support of LGBT equality.
Our two ongoing boycotts are Manchester Hotels in San Diego and Texas due to owner Doug Manchester's $125,000 early contribution to qualify and pass Proposition 8, and our nearly four year boycott against A-1 Self Storage because of owner Terry Caster's $691,000 in contributions to Yes on Proposition 8.
As we have with our four other boycott targets, we at Rights Equal Rights remain open to a possible settlement of the Amway / Alticor Boycott at any time. We encourage all companies to be a good corporate citizen and work toward full equality, fairness and respect for everyone in our great country.