LGBT organization calling for Boycott of Amway

Today, the California-based LGBT group Rights Equal Rights announced that it was calling for a boycott of Amway/Alticor, because of “its President and company owner Doug DeVos’ $500,000 contribution to the National Organization (NOM) for Marriage.”

The Rights Equal Rights website also states, “A global boycott of Amway will let others know that there are consequences for giving massive amounts of money to take away the rights of a minority. We will be closely watching the donors who contribute to the anti-gay sides of the four upcoming November 6th marriage elections in Minnesota, Maryland, Maine and Washington State.

This is not the first time that a member of the DeVos family has providing funding to defeat marriage equality or other LGBT rights struggles around the country. The Richard & Helen DeVos Foundation and the Dick & Betsy DeVos Foundation have also provided significant amounts of money to previous anti-gay campaigns, such as defeating marriage equality in Florida and funding anti-gay groups like Focus on the Family and the American Family Association. We obtain this information through their foundation 990s, which were used for the documentary film we produced on the history of the LGBTQ community in Grand Rapids.

Locally, we learned in the Grand Rapids People’s History of the LGBTQ Community that Richard DeVos threatened to pull funding for a new building project at GVSU in 1995, when it was reported that the university was planning on providing domestic partner benefits to their faculty and staff.

The Rights Equal Rights organization sent Doug DeVos a letter expressing their outrage over the Amway President’s financial support of NOM and provided the following list of Amway/Alticor brands and subsidiaries that the organization is asking people to boycott.

Amway – Family of Brands

Atmosphere Artistry Skin Care Products Beauty Products Sold Through Amway Fragrances iCook Jewelry and Apparel Laura Mercier® Legacy of Clean Home Care Products Nutrilite Health Products RéVive Ribbon Water Systems Sold Through Amway XS Food and Beverage Division

Real Estate

DP Fox Ventures, LLC, a diversified management company with interests in real estate, transportation, and sports and entertainment

Access Business Group LLC

Alticor Corporate Enterprises

Interleukin Genetics Gurwitch Products Metagenics

Hospitality & Fitness

Amway Hotel Corporation Amway Grand Plaza Hotel JW Marriott Grand Rapids Courtyard by Marriott Downtown Grand Rapids Peter Island Resorts RDV Sportsplex MVP Sports Clubs in Michigan and Florida

Professional Sports

Orlando Magic – National Basketball Association (NBA) Orlando, FL Grand Rapids Griffins – American Hockey League (AHL) Grand Rapids, MI

Fox Automotive Group

Delta Imports – Porsche, Audi and Subaru, Grand Rapids, MI Fox Acura – Grand Rapids, MI Fox Buick GMC – Comstock Park, MI Fox Ford Mazda – Grand Rapids, MI Fox Honda – Grand Rapids, MI Fox Hyundai Kia – Grand Rapids, MI Fox Nissan – Grand Rapids, MI Fox Saab – Grand Rapids, MI Fox Powersports of Kentwood – Aprilia, Arctic Cat, Piaggio, Qlink, Vespa, Genuine Scooter, MotoGuzzi, Yamaha, Grand Rapids, MI Fox Shawmut Hills – Can-Am, Sea-Doo, Ski-Doo, Suzuki, Yamaha, Honda Powersports, Honda Power Equipment, Kawasaki, Grand Rapids, MI Grand Rapids Harley-Davidson – Hudsonville, MI Fox Collision Center – Grand Rapids, MI Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center – Kentwood, MI Fox Ford Lincoln of Cadillac – Cadillac, MI Fox Toyota of Cadillac – Toyota, Scion, Cadillac, MI Fox Grand Traverse – Ford, Lincoln, BMW, Mazda, Traverse City, MI Mercedes-Benz of Traverse City – Traverse City, MI Fox Collision Center – Traverse City, MI Fox Charlevoix – Buick, Cadillac, Chrysler , Dodge , Jeep, RAM, Gem, Charlevoix, MI Fox Charlevoix Ford – Ford, Lincoln, Charlevoix, MI Fox Collision Center, Charlevoix, MI Fox Negaunee GM – Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, Negaunee, MI Fox Negaunee Chrysler – Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Negaunee, MI Fox Collision Center – Negaunee, MI Fox Marquette – Ford, Lincoln, Marquette, MI

The Boycott Amway/Alticor campaign also has an online petition to sign, provides a number to call Doug DeVos and is asking for people to spread the word on the boycott.