Posted on 08/04/2012 6:23:36 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
You better think twice, Chick-fil-A: The same week that the fast food chain faced criticism over its president’s opposition to same-sex marriage, the train company unveiled a new campaign targeting gay and lesbian customers.
The same week that controversy erupted over Chick-fil-A’s opposition to same-sex marriage, Amtrak unveiled a marketing campaign aimed at its gay and lesbian clientele.
The “Ride With Pride” program promotes “extremely gay-friendly” destinations, including California wine country and Martha’s Vineyard.
“It makes good business sense to target a population that is a friend of the rails, a friend of rail travel,” said Amtrak spokesman Cliff Cole, who was unsure how many tickets were sold through the promotion.
The initiative was rolled out around the same time restaurant chain Chick-fil-A made national headlines after president Dan Cathy said the company is "guilty as charged" of opposing same-sex marriage.
Fallout for Chick-fil-A continues to be mixed, but even as Cathy stands behind his polarizing remarks, other companies are making a concerted effort to court gay and lesbian customers.
Kraft Foods posted a photo of a rainbow-hued Oreo cookie to its Facebook page in June -- earning 2,000 comments and the threat of a boycott.
That same month, Target’s website began selling t-shirts with rainbows and slogans like “harmony” and “pride” as part of a fundraiser to support a marriage equality group.
Even formerly conservative companies are opening their marketing camapaigns to gay and lesbian customers, whose buying power is expected to reach $790 billion this year, marketing firm Witeck Communications told the Los Angeles Times.
Hotel mega-chain Marriott International, which once had Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney as a corporate board member, this spring launched a massive campaign targeting gay travelers. The "Be You, With Us," is widely promoted on the corporate website, which also declares “We’re proud to say Marriott was one of the first hotel companies to offer equal benefits to same-sex couples nationwide.”
So far, Amtrak said it hasn’t seen any backlash to the “Ride With Pride” campaign.
“Our policy is to welcome all segments of the population,” Cole said.
Yes.
It was either a colossal success, or a stupendous success.
Not spending enough, Amtrak loses hundreds of millions of dollars a year.
Queer bucks not helping enuf.
That gay campaign worked out well for Penny’s.
Unlike Amtrak, Chick-fil-A has to make a profit.
Pray for America
Amtrak's losses in food and beverage service totaled $833 million during the last 10 years, he said. "It costs passengers $9.50 to buy a cheeseburger on Amtrak, but the cost to Amtrak is $16.15 each. Riders pay $2 for a Pepsi, but it costs Amtrak $3.40 to serve each of these sodas."
Even with our tax dollars and support from the gay 2% of the population, Amtrak can't even make a profit on a $9.50 vending machine burger in a plastic wrapper and a $2.00 can of Pepsi. The corruption behind their food business must be monumental!
I didn’t know Amtrak was fag friendly. Well, that’s fabulous. OTOH, I don’t think you’ll see many fags riding on trains.
So Amtrak is promoting "ride with pride" to Martha's Vineyard (an island)?
Yes, and since Chic Fil A, people - like us - are paying more attention to who we do business with.
Personally, I'll drive miles out of my way to avoid a pro-pervert, pro-NAMBLA institution, and miles out of my way to support a pro-natural, pro-child institution.
I talk the talk, and I walk the walk. Now, more than ever, actions and money matter to these business.
Please pass on to your family and friends the noble business's in your area, and encourage them to shop there, and alert them to those who support the boy molesting, disease spreading side of the isle.
Who are the Amtrak buyers? Why don't they go to Costco?? That money is going somewhere!
As we rode through the Midwest's worst heat wave since 1936, the air conditioning broke down--of course, the cars were designed to be air-conditioned, so naturally, the windows wouldn't open. As a result, passengers bought beer to try to stay cool, and the train soon ran out. During an extended stop in La Junta, Colo., passengers mobbed the town's liquor store in what became a near-riot--I was in the thick of the mob and one of the first to buy a can of suds.
The train was 14 hours late getting to our destination and 12 hours late getting back. For some reason, I've never since taken Amtrak anywhere.
I thought sodomites were big airline travelers?
Amtrak sure isn’t gay friendly when the “fags” are cigarettes.
I imagine this is classic government corruption.
Guess it’s back to Metro North and all those stops between New Haven and New York City.
Before you can see any "backlash", people have to be riding your train.
Oh. I'll have to pass this one on to my brother. He's a head hunter for a major, world wide corporation. I'll bet that corporation - who's head quarters is in a conservative district - has used this one.
Oh yeah. Time to turn the lights out for that place. Time for the locals to put some pressure on this corporation to avoid the Marriot like a plague.
I'd be proud to get this started. It's for a good cause.
“The “Ride With Pride” program promotes “extremely gay-friendly” destinations, including California wine country and Martha’s Vineyard”
Excuse me, I’m just a stupid “breeder”, but just when did drinking wine and walking on the beach become exclusively for homosexuals only?
My wife and I are terribly disappointed. We’ll drive our minivan to the Blue Ridge & take our bourbon straight if that’s what it takes. Who needs Amtrak!?
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