Californians
Against Hate -- a group focused on highlighting donors to
Proposition 8, the ballot initiative that could ban same-sex
marriage in the Golden State -- has ended its
boycott against Bolthouse Farms, a vegetable grower
and juice maker whose founder donated $100,000 to get
the measure on the ballot.
The Los
Angeles Times reported on Thursday that
Californians Against Hate ended its war with Bolthouse
-- which included protests
at grocery stores that stocked Bolthouse
Products -- because the company's chief executive has
provided evidence that Bolthouse Farms has separated itself
from company founder William Bolthouse. This knowledge
"provides us with confidence that Bolthouse Farms is
committed to working productively with the [LGBT]
community," according to a release from Californians
Against Hate.
Earlier in the
year, William Bolthouse donated $100,000 to
ProtectMarriage.com, a group that helped gather the required
signatures to get the anti-gay measure on the ballot.
But current management at Bolthouse Farms point out
that William Bolthouse sold his stake in Bolthouse
Farms in 2005, and that the company also recently
extended medical benefits to partners of gay employees.
Bolthouse CEO Jeff Dunn also made a personal $5,000
contribution to No on 8, the organization fighting
Proposition 8.
The Bakersfield,
Calif.-based company released a statement saying it
thanked "Californians Against Hate for recognizing our work
to meet our mission of showing respect and integrity
to our employees, our vendors and our customers."
(Neal Broverman, The Advocate)