In Brief

Staff Reports

Pentagon Celebrates Pride Minus Rainbow Symbolism

ARLINGTON, VA -- In a Pentagon auditorium Tuesday that normally seats 350 persons, an overflow crowd celebrated as the U. S. Defence Department marked “LGBT Pride Month” for the first time.

On a stage flanked by the flags of the five branches of the military, Jeh Johnson, the Pentagon’s general counsel, told the audience at that there have been “almost no issues of negative effects” on the military since the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy was scrapped. In his videotaped message for the ceremony- which was shown on the Pentagon's Television Channel and streamed live on the Internet as well- U. S. Defence Secretary Leon Panetta said “Diversity is one of our greatest strengths,” adding “during Pride month -- and every month -- let us celebrate our rich diversity and renew our enduring commitment to equality for all.”

Although the rainbow Pride flag was not on display alongside the military flags, the audience of gay and lesbian service members seemed appreciative nonetheless.

“It’s a little bit surreal that the change could come so fast and that the department could be taking such positive steps,” said Army Lieutenant Colonel Todd Burton, who returned home from a six- month deployment to Afghanistan less than two weeks ago. Burton, 44, joined the Army in 1985 right after his graduation from high school. “To finally be able to be open and honest and recognized by the department for my service is just an incredibly fulfilling experience,” he said.

Tuesday's ceremony at the Pentagon drew criticism from several conservative sources including Peter Sprigg, from the Family Research Council, a Washington based public-policy research group., who was quoted saying; “The military cannot make political correctness a higher priority without making combat effectiveness a lower one, this event proves that we are already moving down that slippery slope.”

Zeke Stokes, a spokesman for the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network noted; 

“It’s really about recognising that gay and lesbian service members are in the ranks and they have always been there. We can’t forget that just a year ago these service members could have been fired just for being who they are.”

Oreo Cookie's Support Amoung Some Conservatives Crumbles After Pride Cookie Campaign Is Released

Photo Courtesy Of Kraft Foods

NORTHFIELD, IL -- KRAFT Foods rolled out a LGBT friendly campaign for its immensely popular Oreo cookies- which the company bills as the "world's favourite cookie-” has now created controversy on the Oreo cookie's Facebook fan page by pledging company support for LGBT pride month.

The image, (pictured), posted to the fan page shows rainbow layers between its biscuit wafers, instead of the usual dollop of white cream. The photo was accompanied by the message "Proudly support love!" The company posted the image and accompanying message after thousands of LGBTQ people, supporters, and allies attended Pride events in New York City, San Francisco, and elsewhere around the globe this past weekend.

A review of the comments show that while most commenters were in support of the multi-coloured equal rights cookie, others severely disagreed with Oreo's tolerant stance, some even threatening a biscuit-boycott:

"This is absolutely disgusting," wrote Desean Washington. "Your attempt to 'normalize' the behaviour of homosexuals has cost you a customer,” wrote another commenter while one writes that the image provoked such a violent response that he had decided he was "never eating an Oreo ever again.”

Facebook top commenter Steve Permar- whose interests include "Sarah Palin" and "I Love Jesus-" writes: "Guess I won't be buying oreo's [sic] anymore." Yet another declared the Oreo post was evidence of "more homosexuality shoved down our throats.”
Oreo is described as one of the most successful brands on Facebook, has some 26 million fans on the social networking website, with 145,000 liking the Pride post.

As the comments descended into a cookie civil war Tuesday morning, the majority of posters were supportive of the chocolate-flavoured sandwich cookie. "Way to go Oreo!" wrote Christopher Kahle. "You used to be able to tell how much guts a brand had by their advertising, today we get to see it with their compassion."

Megan Amanda Duran, added, "Thank you Oreo, thank you!"
Oreo is manufactured by food giant Kraft. The pride-themed cookie, which appears to be delicious, is unfortunately unavailable in stores.