An anti-gay group in Russia has accused
a milk vendor of promoting homosexuality to children.
The St. Petersburg chapter of the group
People's Council claims Wimm-Bill-Dann's Jolly Milkman (which also
translates to “gay milkman” but is not a reference to
homosexuality) marketing, which includes a colorful rainbow, is in
violation of a local ordinance which prohibits the “promotion of
homosexuality to minors.”
“A rainbow appeared on the cartons, a
world-renowned symbol of the gay movement,” said
the group's Anatoly Artukh. “That immediately put me on
alert.”
The group filed a complaint with city
officials and prosecutors are investigating the claim, Artukh said.
Wimm-Bill-Dann is Russia's largest food
and beverage company. It was purchased by PepsiCo in 2010 for $3.8
million.
“I have no doubts about Pepsi Cola,”
he said. “This is a company renowned for actively and aggressively
financing and promoting homosexuality.”
Artukh earlier told Reuters that the
group is planning protests against the company.
“In the near future we are planning
to picket the shops and hand out leaflets informing people that the
money they spend on this milk will be used to finance gay
propaganda,” Artyukh
is quoted as saying.