Pepsi Accused of Funding Controversial Religious Doctrines, Says PFOX

PLANO, Texas, April 7 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays & Gays (PFOX) is calling on PepsiCo stockholders to vote for a shareholder proposal that would require Pepsi to divulge its standards for donating over $75 million in corporate assets to controversial groups.

PepsiCo, Inc. is the leading corporate sponsor of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, Inc. (PFLAG).  PFLAG's latest publication, a religious guidebook, instructs members to hold press conferences and issue press releases against certain religious events "to remind people that there is more than one faith message."  See PFLAG Faith Field Guide, pp. 9 -11.

PFLAG's faith guidebook also urges its members to protest against religious conferences which feature ex-gay speakers.  

"Why does PepsiCo fund an organization like PFLAG which issues religious publications urging readers to undermine other religions with which PFLAG disagrees?" asked Regina Griggs, executive director of PFOX.  "Is this the best use of PepsiCo funding?"

"PepsiCo refuses to divulge exactly how much money it donated to PFLAG last year.  PepsiCo's website lists its PFLAG donation as 'over $100,000,' but in past years that amount has meant as much as $500,000," said Griggs.  "This means that Pepsi may be giving away half a million dollars or more in corporate earnings to a controversial organization to help fund its religious viewpoint."

"PepsiCo's actions can adversely affect its public image, goodwill, and stock value."

"The PepsiCo Shareholder Proposal No. 4 asks Pepsi to fully divulge its standards for funding and account for how the company's charitable contributions are actually used, a reasonable request," said Griggs.

"In response to a similar proposal last year, PepsiCo claimed that it is 'committed to diversity and inclusion without imposition of personal judgment.'  So why does PepsiCo continue to fund organizations that hate the ex-gay community?  Bigotry has no place in American society."  

PepsiCo manufactures Pepsi-Cola and Gatorade drinks, Frito-Lay snacks, Tropicana juices, and Quaker foods.

Listen to PFOX's speech at last year's PepsiCo shareholder meeting at http://www.pfox.org/Speech_PepsiCo_Shareholder_Meeting.html

Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays & Gays (PFOX) leads the nation in providing outreach, education, and public awareness in support of families and the ex-gay community. They can be reached at http://pfox.org/about_us.html

CONTACT:  Regina Griggs, Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays & Gays, PFOX, +1-804-453-4737, [email protected]

SOURCE Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays and Gays (PFOX)