Toms Shoes Partnered With Gay Hate Religious Group Focus On Family?
Blake Mycoskie…bro a lot of folks ain’t feelin’
you or your shoes right about now.
Yea, you read right. Hipster Blake Mycoskie, the founder of the trendy de la trendy philanthropic shoe company TOMS (where they donate a pair of shoes for every pair purchased) has been carrying on hot ‘n’ heavy with Focus On Family-—– a well known anti-gay conservative Christian group, according to Village Voice.
We’re so overcome with shock we can barely find the words to describe our profound disappointment with Mycoskie. And we’ve met him a couple of times. Didn’t come off all religiony or anything like that. Here’s what the Village Voice had to say:
Today, the internet noticed that Blake Mycoskie, the founder of the philanthropic slip-on shoe company TOMS, which donates a pair of shoes for every one bought (and has expanded greatly and now includes a wedding collection), has been working closely with Focus on the Family, which does not exactly work with the brand’s totally chill image. Focus on the Family is an evangelical non-profit and the things that come along with that – hating gay people, evolution, abortion — clash mightily with the beliefs of most hippie, hipster, bearded, crunchy, countercultural(-ish), what-have-you types that have embraced the feel-good mission of TOMS and what everyone thought they stood for. We might have another Whole Foods on our hands!
The Village Voice also noted that a photo of Mycoskie is on the Focus On Family Website no less so this ain’t no rumor. Here’s Jezebel’s take on it:
Last week, TOMS shoes founder Blake Mycoskie was a headliner at an event hosted by Focus On The Family.According to Christianity Today, Focus On The Family is “working to become a TOMS international distributor in Africa.” Will canvas-footed progressives balk?
Since the departure of James Dobson, the group has modified their tone on polarizing topics, but not their positions on them: They still are anti-choice, anti-gay, anti-evolution, you name it.
“The media is having a tough time figuring us out,” an official at the group’s political unit told Christianity Today in the same July piece, adding that when “we are active in the defense of traditional marriage, which is seen by the media as hateful and homophobic, so they scratch their heads and say, ‘Wait, I thought they were changing their tone.’”
As Jezebel writes, “There’s nothing inherently political about distributing shoes to African children, of course,” but you are the company you keep. And in Mycoskie’s case, though he’s been mum so far on the internet outrage, it will be interesting to see whether he’s more interested in spreading his charity by partnering with a huge group like Focus, no matter the damage to TOMS’ hip image, or if the bottom line will prevail. Expect a statement from Mycoskie on the issue soon.
Yea well Mycoskie better hop on it soon, like today. Cause we were just on the Facebook Fan Page for the Prop 8 Trialtracker and those queens are not having it. They’ve already posted the link to Tom’s Facebook Fan Page on their wall and messaging left ‘n’ right to get folks over to Tom’s Facebook page pronto to offer up a piece of their minds. The boycott strategy is being laid out as we type.
We just don’t understand Mycoskie. What the hell is he thinking? Hookin’ up with an anti gay outfit like Focus On Family is just begging for trouble. We don’t think his company can survive this. What an idiot.
Get the full story here at Village Voice: Blake Mycoskie, TOMS Shoes Founder, Working With Christian, Anti-Gay Focus on the Family
News | Derrick Mathis July 8, 2011
15 Comments to “Toms Shoes Partnered With Gay Hate Religious Group Focus On Family?”
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By Jackie, July 8, 2011 @ 5:43 pm
That SO sucks!!! I really like him!! Ugh!!!
By demandequality, July 10, 2011 @ 6:46 am
Too bad RENWL did not follow the entire story because if they had they would have seen this
From https://www.facebook.com/t?oms link http://www.startsomethingt?hatmatters.com/2011/…
Had I known the full extent of Focus on the Family’s beliefs, I would not have accepted the invitation to speak at their event. It was an oversight on my part and the company’s part and one we regret. In the last 18 months we have presented at over 70 different engagements and we do our best to make sure we choose our engagements wisely, on this one we chose poorly.
Furthermore, contrary to what has been reported, Focus on the Family is not a TOMS giving partner.
So there is no misunderstanding created by this mistake, let me clearly state that both TOMS, and I as the founder, are passionate believers in equal human and civil rights for all. That belief is a core value of the company and of which we are most proud.
By Derrick Mathis, July 10, 2011 @ 7:03 am
Too bad you don't make absolutely certain that you know what you're talking about because you would've seen this: http://www.renwl.org/toms-shoes-apologizes-to-gay…
By Derrick Mathis, July 10, 2011 @ 7:07 am
Did you bother to look at our blog AT ALL? Clearly you didn't.
http://www.renwl.org/toms-shoes-apologizes-to-gay…
By derrick9, July 10, 2011 @ 7:09 am
Did you bother to look at our blog? No we don't think you did.
http://www.renwl.org/toms-shoes-apologizes-to-gay…
By derrick9, July 10, 2011 @ 7:11 am
Oh and no apologies necessary. People jump the gun all the time. We're used to it.
By demandequality, July 10, 2011 @ 7:46 am
hey asshole I meant on THIS BLOG you moron – and you can take your apology shove it down your fucking throat & choke on it idiot
By Derrick Mathis, July 10, 2011 @ 5:34 pm
You really are stupid. There's no point in arguing with you. Anybody with eyes can see based on your statements you mother and father are also brother and sister. I'M TALKING ABOUT THIS BLOG ASS WIPE. LEARN HOW TO READ. THAT HELPS.
By JayMo, July 10, 2011 @ 8:05 pm
I guess you just lost all creditably talking like that. No one will take you seriously if you can not discuss like a civil human being.
By Derrick Mathis, July 10, 2011 @ 8:24 pm
Hardly Jay. I started out being civil. For some reason that instigated an attack. And I obliged them in response. Moving on…
By jim, July 9, 2011 @ 11:12 am
Watch as they come out with new 'rainbow designs' – anything to make a buck it seems. And mine were so dang comfortable.
By Two Britts, July 9, 2011 @ 11:41 am
Bummer. I was actually looking into getting a pair. No longer!
By Reddick harris, July 9, 2011 @ 12:58 pm
If you lie down with dogs, you will get fleas.
By Mary, July 12, 2011 @ 12:57 am
Gay -haters? Seriously – who are the haters now? The guy apologized! YOU get over it and apply some of the big-hearted, open-minded, live-and-let-live, "chill" total state of mind you so passionately champion! Aren't we feeling a little but hypocritical? If you can expect Christians to live-and-let-live – why not live by your own standard??? Also – so many of you are SO quick to assume that Mycoskie's appearance in itself was some enormous hateful act! The REAL hate being acted upon here has only come from the gay activists and their followers. (NOTE: I refer only to gay ACTIVISTS – not your average nice gay friend who has a real job and a life outside of creating an enormous stressful conflict out of every little thing!) If Soulforce never got involved, life would go on, Toms would continue to provide lots of shoes to needy kids and Mycoskie would continue to have the same great relationship with everybody just as he should. FOTF would not be any richer or more powerful or any more a threat to gays who already enjoy an enormous amount of respect and prosperity in our American culture. Who doesn't have a list of gay friends whom they love? Mycoskie took no action that hurt any gay person's ability to have a happy, healthy, successful and prosperous life, filled with lots of friends and positive relationships. Soulforce, on the other hand….made sure to besmirch his fine character, create billowing nasty hateful clouds of ill will against him and ultimately, through thin veils, threatened to destroy his livelihood. The only haters are Soulforce and their followers. It is NEVER EVER justifiable to actively hate someone and take hurtful or threatening action against someone just because you THINK they MIGHT disagree with your point of view and MUST be guilty by association! And – in the case of FOTF – which does indeed disagree with the gay activitsts POV – it is STILL not acceptable to hate them.!!! DIdn't any of your mommies or gurus or therapists teach you that???? The only ones casting gays in a poor light and making them look inferior and weak and petty – are the Soulforce activitsts themselves!
By Hannah, July 24, 2011 @ 11:55 pm
I've always found it sort of humorous how liberals are always on about social equality and stuff, but if you love Jesus you instantly are classified as a hate-spreading, Bible banging, illiterate ass-wipe. Focus on the Family has a belief and an agenda. They're a religious organization. What do you expect? Mycoskie obviously is a Christian. That doesn't mean he believes that you're going burn in hell, that means he loves Jesus. The writers of this blog should take their own advice and stop judging. You're doing it more than some of the real Bible banging Christian's I know.