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06/05/2007
Attention fellow gay activists:
If you are protesting the gay-unfriendly attitudes of a specific country or their government, then you should by all means speak out loudly and fervently against the injustices you perceive. However, it seems more than a little shortsighted to turn that antipathy towards a privatized product, and to call for a boycott of said product. This is especially true when that particular product and company not only advertise on gay programs and in gay magazines, but also serves as the SOLE BACKER of a show on the nation's most prominent gay cable network!!
Thank you for your time and consideration. We love your spirit, but this rage against one particular spirit seems a tad ill-advised!
Stoli boycott launch at Russian Consulate over antigay violence [IndyBay.org]
**While Soli was originally a government product and its trademark has been disputed for years (espeically domestically), what we drink in the states is bottled by the private SPI group/ Pernod Richard. Furthermore -- it seems to be produced in Latvia.
**UPDATE: Stoli is also a national corporate sponsor of Lambda Legal!
**UPDATE2: Joe.My.God has some photos from the NYC demonstration, as well as some attempts to gauge the suitability of the target.
**RELATED STORY: Stoli vodka buddies up to the gay and lesbian crowd with documentary [USA TODAY]
Your thoughts
Why are they boycotting Stoli? That makes no sense. If they want to boycott vodka to make a statement, it seems to me that they should be boycotting Russian Standard. http://www.russianstandard.com/press_center/
Posted by: EvilPoet | Jun 5, 2007 12:19:43 PM
check out my report from san francisco's action today, with photos:
http://mpetrelis.blogspot.com/2007/06/stoli-dumped-in-ny-sf-to-protest-anti.html
Posted by: Michael Petrelis | Jun 5, 2007 9:19:15 PM
LATVIA???
Well that sure seems to change everything. Latvia is more homophobic than Russia. Makes my decision all the better.
Posted by: robrexus | Jun 6, 2007 10:26:57 AM
Rob: You're of course entitled, nay, commanded to make your own decisions on this. However, when all the facts are considered, it just seems like an unwarranted attack. ironically, as the Russian govt. has been challenging to seize control of the Stoli trademark for years, it seems they may actually join you in the antipathy for the Stoli we drink here in the states!
Posted by: G-A-Y | Jun 6, 2007 10:31:07 AM
This is unbelievably stupid. Pouring vodka, which I assume someone purchased in the first place, down the gutter as some sort of a "statement"? Wow.
Posted by: J. | Jun 6, 2007 1:50:19 PM
This sure is a hare-brained scheme. It makes no sense, and even the people behind the protest can't seem to come up with a reason, other than it's symbolic.
Yet another half-baked idea that no one bothered to think through.
Posted by: Mark | Jun 6, 2007 2:06:20 PM
It seems like too easy and misdirected, in lieu of real work to affect change.
Posted by: Web Design | Jun 6, 2007 2:31:40 PM
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