Ralph Alvarez, Pres and CEO
McDonald’s Corporation
2111 McDonald’s Drive
Oak Brook, IL 60523
1-800-244-6227

3:35 PM 10/14/2008
Hello;
I am writing to you, McDonald’s, after reading the headline and story “McDonald’s Caves In To Anti-Gay Group Demands” in the 365 Gay: News, regarding your actions (in cahoots with?) and stemming from the objections of the (ironically named) AFA. I was stunned to learn of such unenlightened actions based on archaic, hateful, outmoded, and inappropriately intolerant attitudes. This was on their website at:
http://www.365gay.com/news/mcdonalds-caves-in-to-anti-gay-group-demands/

I am a heterosexual mother from the Midwest, and I am appalled by your actions. I raised my children to be loving, caring, respectful of, sensitive to, and tolerant of everyone, and were I raising them today, they would never again be taken into a McDonald’s – - and they would be told why. I would use McDonald’s as a example of poor citizenship. This is cruel, and, to my thinking, is only one small-minded, but contributory, place on the continuum that leads to all the hate crimes taking place in this world. McDonald’s has long been a respected company for it’s inclusion of all of the population, but now they have demonstrated that this respect is undeserved. They need to persuade Mr. Ellis back and reinstate their ties to National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce – - if they’ll have them, and then begin to work to repair the damage they have done in this hateful move.
The fact that McDonald’s took the actions they did nullifies their claims to “not be involved in political and social issues,” and that “McDonald’s remains neutral on same-sex marriage or any ‘homosexual agenda’ as defined by the American Family Association.”
Your actions loudly defeat these claims.

As a FORMER customer, I am incensed, outraged, and ashamed. Rest assured that I and everyone I convey this sleazy action to will no longer patronize McDonald’s, and will find a less intolerant and less easily swayed to hatred restaurant to frequent. I am so very upset at this action. If, as they claim, McDonald’s is a family restaurant, then why are they taking up family-splitting actions? To my thinking McDonald’s is no longer a family restaurant, as I could not feel comfortable meeting gay family or friends there knowing that they are really not welcome.
The claims of neutrality are belied by the actions taken, and I am ashamed to even think of McDonald’s – - such a FORMERLY staunch family-oriented company – - bending to the whims of this hate-mongering organization. Shame on McDonald’s for not having the courage to stand up to them and to dismiss attempts by the intolerant and the hateful. You will long be remembered for caving in to those with such intolerant stances, and the very name McDonald’s will be a bad taste in the minds of many of the public, me among them. Having read of your actions, I wouldn’t partake in or donate to any of your previously-lauded community programs (Ronald McDonald House, etc.), nor will I feed your food to my family, friends, or even my dog, as I see it all a poisoned with your attitudes. Shame, shame, shame!

JM Shephard
Jmshephard1@msn.com

CC: to all my kids, all my family, all my friends, whom I am imploring to boycott any and all McDonald’s, McDonald’s ventures, and McDonald’s community projects.

They would probably be tortured and murdered for being Christians. Too late, they would realize how similar they are to the their executioners.