Packaged goods giant General Mills got both praise and criticism at its annual shareholders meeting Monday (24 September) for its public stance against a proposed amendment to the Minnesota state constitution that would ban gay marriage.

One shareholder asked: ‘What was the reason for the company to get involved when perhaps over 50 percent of your customer base will be offended? I just don’t understand the rationale.’

But others applauded the stance with one saying: ‘I would like to commend you for taking a stand on discrimination of any kind in the workplace.’

General Mills Chief Executive Officer Ken Powell told shareholders the company’s decision to oppose the amendment was based more on business than politics.

‘We see it as a business issue that’s not good for our state, our employees and our company,’ he said. ‘We did not do it as a public relations move.’

It was just last month that General Mills got some unusual publicity when a 65-year-old man from Andover tried to light some Cheerios on fire in a bungled anti-gay protest that went viral. The man, Michael Leisner, died about a week after the protest of unknown causes.

The amendment is on the November ballot in Minnesota with polls showing voter sentiment split nearly down the middle.