Rev. Franklin Graham is putting his money where his mouth is as he announced on social media this week that the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association is dropping its account at Wells Fargo.
The change to another bank is fallout from Wells Fargo's advertisement depicting a
lesbian couple adopting a child, according to The Gospel Herald.
“Every day it is something else!” Graham, son of the renowned evangelist, wrote in a Facebook post. “Tiffany's started advertising wedding rings for gay couples. Wells Fargo bank is using a same-sex couple in their advertising. And there are more.”
Graham expressed discontent with “the tide of moral decay . . . being crammed down our throats by big business, the media, and the gay & lesbian community,” accord to The Herald.
In a seemingly eureka moment for Graham, he expressed a free-market solution.
“It has dawned on me that we don't have to do business with them,” Graham wrote. “And guess what — we don't have to shop at Tiffany & Co., there are plenty of other jewelry stores.”
The reverend encouraged that, with “the power of choice,” Christian can fight “those who promote sing and stand against Almighty God’s laws and His standards.”
Wells Fargo spokeswoman Christina Kolbjornsen defended the
commercial Monday, according to the Washington Times.
“At Wells Fargo, serving every customer is core to our vision and values,” Kolbjornsen said. “Diversity and inclusion are foundational to who we are as a company. Our advertising content reflects our company’s values and represents the diversity of the communities we serve.”
Graham is not the only one criticizing companies for using LGBT relationships in advertisements.
In Brazil, the cosmetic company O boticário — which translates to "Apothecary" in English — produced a commercial for its unisex fragrances that features both
homosexual and heterosexual couples, according to Gay Star News.
O boticário released a statement saying it believed in “the beauty of relationships” and wanted “to address with respect and sensitivity, the current resonance on the different forms love — regardless of age, race, gender, or sexual orientation.”
The company’s Facebook page has received more than 3,000 mixed comments, and at least 20 comments have been sent to Bonar, the National Council for Advertising Self-Regulation. The agency is expected to make a ruling as to whether or not the commercial may be shown within 45 days of receiving the complaints.
In the United States, gay rights activists have developed boycott campaigns against flower shops, bakeries, and other small business that have refused to serve gay couples.
According to TheBlaze, they could even be fined.