General Mills has come out against a
proposed gay marriage ban in Minnesota.
Voters in November will decide whether
to place the state's law which bans gay nuptials in the Minnesota
Constitution.
Located in Minneapolis, General Mills
is one of the world's largest food corporations and a Fortune 500
company. Its stable of brands include favorites such as Betty
Crocker, Haagen-Dazs, Old El Paso, Nature Valley, Pillsbury and
Yoplait.
In an e-mailed statement provided to On
Top Magazine, Tom Forsythe, vice president of corporate
communications, said the amendment would hurt Minnesota's economy.
“For decades, General Mills has
worked to create an inclusive culture for our employees. We believe
it is important for Minnesota to be viewed as inclusive and welcoming
as well. We oppose the proposed constitutional amendment because we
do not believe it is in the best interests of our employees or our
state economy,” he said.
Ken Powell, chairman and CEO of General
Mills, spoke out against the amendment at a reception on Wednesday
night, a company spokesperson said.
Minnesotans United for All Families,
the group spearheading the effort to defeat passage of the amendment
in November, cheered the news and launched
a petition thanking General Mills for “supporting all Minnesota
families.”
(Related: Gay
marriage foe NOM asks Minnesota companies to keep out of ban debate.)