Here's the basics. The Chairman of Barilla says:
Guido Barilla, whose firm has almost half the Italian pasta market and a quarter of that in the US, told Italy’s La Zanzara radio show last night: “I would never do an advert with a homosexual family…if the gays don’t like it they can go an eat another brand.
Then the pasta magnate upped the ante by attacking gay adoption. “I have no respect for adoption by gay families because this concerns a person who is not able to choose," he said.
The hashtags are #boycottbarilla and #boicottabarilla
Time to say "ciao" to bigotry.
Edit: He has offered a non-apology apology. It doesn't do it for me, but you may feel differently.
Below the fold I talk about why Barilla pasta is deeply important to my family, especially my son, who has a limited diet (and Down Syndrome). And yet, I'm ready for this boycott.
My son has Down Syndrome. He eats about ten things - cheerios, oatmeal, blueberries, cottage cheese, yoghurt, craisins, some crackers, pretzels, applesauce, and Barilla penne and rotini.
Barilla penne and rotini include whole wheat, or added protein, or added vegetables, and so forth. It's the only hot food, other than oatmeal, that I can get my son to eat.
It's possible that with work we will be able to introduce new pasta. It's a texture issue, but one that we may be able to overcome with effort. And we're ready to put forth that effort, because something like "if the gays don’t like it they can go an eat another brand." is just too bigoted to overlook.
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