A group of 80 pastors is taking a stand against Kroger. The coalition of clergy sent a letter to interim Kroger CEO Ronald Sargent with an ultimatum: Drop the LGBT agenda or face a boycott. Kroger is already closing 60 stores over the next year and a half, so it’s bad timing for the local grocer. But is the boycott warranted? Well, Kroger has a long history of going head over heels on LGBT issues.
On the company’s website, it plainly states, “We proudly stand with our LGBTQ+ associates, customers and vendors in making our company brighter and better” on a page dedicated to “LGBTQ+ brands” or products with rainbow packaging and an admonition to “join us in celebrating the LGBTQ+ community with fun pride apparel, rainbow food ideas and much, much more.” The company also touts its “strong alliances” with the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce and array of rainbow and Pride-themed merchandise.
A video from 2019 still on their website shows Kroger’s first float in the Cincinnati Pride Parade. Kroger’s HQ is in Cincinnati. The Ohio pastors’ letter points to other examples and warns, “As you may not be aware, these radical ‘woke’ positions are divisive and contrary to orthodox Biblical teaching and in many cases, contrary to federal law.”
One Million Moms has also launched a petition rallying mothers to refuse to shop at Kroger until the company stops celebrating Pride Month, like other companies that have decided to ditch the rainbow.
Kroger is an American grocery store chain with a large customer base in red states and rural areas. In fact, that’s the bulk of their customer base. Kroger is not Whole Foods in Washington, D.C. or Trader Joe’s in Manhattan. It’s Kroger. So how is a store with a conservative customer base getting away with the LGBT push? Well, maybe they aren’t anymore. We’ll see. Target certainly learned the hard way.
Here is the pastor’s warning, from the letter:
It has come to our attention that your Kroger Company has been deeply entrenched in the culture war promoting radical LGBT policies and political causes. As a result, the group “One Million Moms” 1 and even local churches are now boycotting your grocery store chain…
We are aware of your grocery chain’s humble, hometown beginnings. A 13-year-old boy, forced to quit school and to take a job working to help his family. But when the boy heard he had to work Sundays, his mother objected. Respecting his mother’s wishes, Barney quit and took another job where he could control his days and hours. Cincinnati native Bernard “Barney” Kroger would credit his Biblebelieving mother with instilling in him a deep sense of self-discipline, enabling him to manage and expand his company…
Mr. Sargent, out of respect to your company’s founder, please consider directing your company to not pick sides and to exit the culture war. With the closure of 60 under-performing Kroger’s stores nationwide over the next 18 months, we believe your company would benefit by not ‘upsetting the applecart.’
As 80 lead clergy, we are looking after our congregants which happen to be your potential customer base. We are also hopeful Kroger’s as an employer can prosper; However, with the current radical ‘woke’ policies in place, Kroger will not succeed.
