General Mills Execs Take Stand Against Minnesota Marriage Ban

Ken Charles, vice president of diversity and inclusion for General Mills

The corporate leaders of General Mills are going to bat for gay rights, as proponents of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, as well as condemning a proposed ballot initiative to ban marriage equality.

Ken Charles, the company's vice president of diversity and inclusion, testified before the U.S. Senate to support ENDA. Now the executive has written an extensive post on the company's blog about General Mills CEO Ken Powell's short but insightful words about the marriage amendment in Minnesota, where the company is based.

"I am proud to see our company join the ranks of local and national employers speaking out for inclusion," Charles wrote Thursday. "We do not believe the proposed constitutional amendment is in the best interests of our employees or our state economy – and as a Minnesota-based company we oppose it. We value diversity. We value inclusion. We always have ... and we always will. We’re proud of our workplace, and we’re proud to be a leader for diversity and inclusion in our community. For decades, General Mills has worked to create an inclusive culture that welcomes and values the contributions of all."