Why would the CEO of a large corporation take a stand, any stand, on the question of how marriage should be defined? Back in the 2005 timeframe, my employer, a large software company, instituted a corporate program that had a core cultural component of recognizing, acknowledging and celebrating diversity, including sexual orientation.

Such a policy meant the company would be eligible to bid on contracts (largely government) where recognizing diversity was a major factor. A high-level management diversity office was created to make sure there was 100 percent compliance. Every employee in the company had to sign a loyalty statement, which went into our personal files. I have always felt sorry I signed that statement, but I pretty much knew I didn’t have a choice. Who’s against diversity or inclusiveness? These are words that powerful people or organizations to use as a weapon to silence and thus bully people.

General Mills employs 35,000 people. How arrogant for the CEO to dictate to the world and its employees a company stand on marriage, which is not any business of General Mills? The day after the CEO made the announcement, we donated to the food shelf over $150 worth of GM food we had purchased and liked. No more GM for us.

 

Dick G. Bouchee

Vadnais Heights