ROCKSTAR's CEO Says Gays Misunderstood Company's Stance on Gay Rights

[SistersTalk]

In late 2008, members of the LGBTQ community launched a Boycott ROCKSTAR initiative. In a press release distributed this afternoon, Russel Weiner, CEO of ROCKSTAR, says the gay community may have misunderstood the company's stance on gay rights:

ROCKSTAR Energy Drink CEO Russell Weiner announced today that the beverage company will expand its LGBT corporate policies and make $100,000 in donations, shared among several prominent LGBT organizations. The donations represent a significant contribution given ROCKSTAR’s relatively small staff of 120 employees.
The contribution will be shared among the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Southern Nevada, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), and The Trevor Project, and ROCKSTAR Energy Drink will also financially sponsor the National LGBT Bloggers Initiative. The donations and affirmation of LGBT-friendly corporate policies mark steps by ROCKSTAR to demonstrate support for the LGBT community.

“It has recently come to ROCKSTAR’s attention that there might be a misconception about our company’s policy and my personal support for LGBT rights,” said Weiner. “We apologize for that misunderstanding, and want to make clear today that our company fully supports our LGBT employees and our LGBT customers.”

"Some have erroneously associated our company with offensive language directed at LGBT people, specifically statements coming from Michael Savage, who is not and has never been a shareholder or officer of ROCKSTAR Energy Drink. On behalf of our company and directors, including myself and CFO Janet Weiner, I would like to take this opportunity to disavow any offensive statements directed toward LGBT people, including statements from Michael Savage. ROCKSTAR assures our customers and the general public that our brand will never be associated with any language that does not affirm the essential dignity of every person in our diverse national community."

Sounds like Weiner learned (fairly quickly) just how much money his company makes off the gay community.

[jaysays]

I read about that on change.org early - then come here to post it and you've done it already.

It's a remarkable turn of events. I've been following the story since the beginning and I'm so stunned by the turn of events. Kudos to the bloggers involved!

Just shows how important the "gay wallet" is.

[ChristopherSays]

Hey!!! Jay and I were just talking about this earlier! Wonderful news! :) We're here! We're queer! And we got muscle baby! :)

And for anyone bigger than me...I have a great slap and run technique!

[Kim]

Very Good!!! Wonderful read!!! Muah!!!
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