McDonald's has been criticized by conservatives for using rainbow-colored french fry boxes to celebrate the LGBT community as President Donald Trump comes under fire from the gay community for failing to acknowledge "LGBT Pride Month."
Throughout June, Mcdonald's will use the boxes at three locations along the route of the Capital Pride Parade and in the Bay Area and at select Washington, D.C., locations.
"The rainbow fry boxes are a fun way to show our support of the LGBTQ community using one of McDonald's most iconic and recognizable items," Cathy Martin, co-chair of the McDonald's PRIDE Network and vice president of McDonald's Baltimore Washington Region, said in a statement.
"However, these fry boxes are 'small potatoes' in the grand scheme of our commitment to this community," she stated. "We are proud to honor and celebrate the LGBTQ community, including our employees, customers and beyond, each and every day."
While some have praised the chain for its commitment to "inclusion", the move isn't sitting so well with others.
"DISGUSTING...I'm tired of corporations trying to influence our families like this," Joshua Feuerstein, a former pastor who has millions of followers on Facebook, wrote. "SHARE THIS and let people know to STOP EATING at McDonalds!"
Others also expressed their displeasure on Facebook: "Their justification for this whole push under Obama was 'what two adults do in their bedroom is their business.' I just wish they kept it there instead of constantly pushing this ... in our face," wrote one commenter. "A lot of people don't like this and don't appreciate [being] constantly bombarded with it."
"The rainbow is God's promise to never again destroy our beautiful Earth with water. It is not and should not be used by the lgbqrstuv as a symbol of their perversions!" added another.
According to reports, McDonald's has long been a proponent of homosexual causes and has even featured a commercial where a son reveals to his father, "I like boys." It also made domestic partners of homosexual employees eligible for benefits in 2004 and founded the PRIDE network in 2005.
Other sponsors of the event include Marriott International, Capital One, UPS, Geico, Red Bull, AT&T, Wells Fargo, State Farm, Starbucks, IKEA, Coldwell Banker, Coca-Cola, American Airlines, GAP, Heineken, Kaiser Permanente, and Citibank.
June marks LGBT Pride Month, as former President Barack Obama made official proclamations every year in support of the LGBT community. This year, however, President Trump has not made a such a proclamation, raising the ire of some LGBT activists.
"President Trump's negligence at the start of Pride month provided another example that this administration is no friend to the community," says Sarah Kate Ellis, President and CEO of GLAAD. "While the Trump Administration tries to systematically erase LGBTQ people and families from the fabric of this nation, LGBTQ Americans and allies must do what we know best this Pride month-stay visible and march for acceptance."
Instead, the President headlined the "Road to Majority" conference at the start of "Pride month", an evangelical gathering hosted by the Faith and Freedom Coalition. Other speakers at the conference will include Mike Pence, Ted Cruz, evangelical author James Dobson, Pat Boone and Michael Medved, and 15 others.
