We’re not a fast-food type of family. When I do need to stop for an on-the-road sort of meal, I’ll look first for a sandwich shop like Subway. My son likes a turkey sub with extra olives and pickles.
I was delighted, therefore, to read that activist Mike Rogers (with whom I partnered for Write to Marry Day) had written to Subway’s corporate headquarters when he found that a Subway franchise in a Merced, California had made a $2,500 donation to Yes On 8 campaign. The gift (listed on HRC’s Web site) was in the name “Subway-Merced Mall, M. Page Enterprises, Inc.,” i.e., the business name, not just the personal name of the franchise owner.
Rogers asked Subway to repudiate the gift and add sexual orientation and gender identity to the corporation’s non-discrimination policy. To Subway’s credit, they did, and chided their franchisee for using the company name for a political purpose. In fact, they will be writing to all their franchisees around the world to remind them of the policy regarding political donations.
The franchisee has called Yes on 8 and asked for a refund of the gift, said a company spokesperson. PageOneQ also reports that the company “has a history of contributing to various causes supported by the LGBT community including food for charitable events.”
This is a nice win for equality, and a reminder, as Rogers says, that “We have a handle — a handle on a spigot of money.” More details over at PageOneQ. Right now, I’m going out for lunch. Somehow, I feel like a sandwich . . . .
We’ve been known to stop at Subway, mostly because the kids like it and it’s quick, but I actually prefer a real sandwich on real bread. Nonetheless, I think Subway just got a nudge up the pecking order.
Yup, I agree. As a bread baker myself, I’m pretty picky about breads. When I’m forced to go for a fast food option, though, I’ll take Subway’s honey oat over a McDonald’s bun any day.