Oreo, the beloved cookie brand, is under fire from the National Legal and Policy Center (NLPC) for its partnership with PFLAG (formerly Parents & Friends of Lesbians and Gays), a prominent LGBT organization. The NLPC, known for its conservative stance, released an ad and a shareholder proposal criticizing Oreo for aligning itself with what it deems a “militant activist” group.
The ad, unveiled by NLPC, calls attention to PFLAG’s support for sexually explicit books, such as “This Book Is Gay,” “Gender Queer,” “Flamer,” and “Lawn Boy,” present in school libraries. These books have faced scrutiny from parents across the nation, leading to their inclusion on the American Library Association’s list of the top 13 most challenged books of 2022.
The NLPC’s ad raises concerns about Oreo’s association with PFLAG, questioning whether the cookie brand is inadvertently contributing to the promotion of explicit content in schools and local libraries. The narrator of the ad warns against letting PFLAG and Oreo influence and “corrupt” children.
PFLAG’s endorsement of Banned Books Week, an event promoting the controversial books, is highlighted by the NLPC. Oreo’s official website acknowledges the partnership with PFLAG and encourages visitors to support the organization through a dedicated button.
Oreo’s sponsorship of last year’s PFLAG National Convention, featuring a panel on banned books hosted by MSNBC’s Ali Velshi, adds another layer of concern for NLPC. The director of the Corporate Integrity Project at NLPC, Paul Chesser, expressed the need to address the threat posed by Oreo’s collaboration with PFLAG, particularly in influencing young minds.
Notably, the NLPC, as a Mondelez International shareholder (Oreo’s parent company), has proposed a shareholder resolution calling for a committee to assess the risks associated with Oreo’s affiliations with groups like PFLAG. The proposal aims for transparency and accountability, echoing the backlash other companies faced after taking positions on controversial cultural issues.
Recent examples include Bud Light’s boycott over a partnership with trans-identifying influencer Dylan Mulvaney, Target experiencing sales drops due to controversial products, and The Walt Disney Company losing special tax status in Florida after opposing the state’s parental rights law. The NLPC’s efforts reflect a broader conservative pushback against corporate involvement in divisive social and political matters.
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