Equality Texas to Stoli: Keep your Donations

(GayWebSource.com – Gay Media & Press Network) – Posted by Doug Magditch – HisBigD.com

Stolichnaya Vodka has had a rough go of it in past few weeks. Gay bars across the country, including several in Dallas, are boycotting the product, in an effort to draw attention to Russia’s recent terrible treatment of the LGBT community.

In an effort to mend some of those relationships, GayCities sent out a press release:

“In lieu of the national Stoli boycott by some in the LGBT community, GayCities has convinced SPI (Stoli’s parent company) to donate $5 for each person whom RSVP’s and attends The Most Original Stoli Guy Live in San Francisco, San Diego, Dallas and D.C. The participating charities include local chapters of Equality CA, Equality Texas and the HRC, all whom will be present at the events to accept the donation. GayCities is currently in discussions with SPI to select an international beneficiary that works directly in affecting change for LGBTs in Russia. The organization will be revealed live at The Most Original Stoli Guy finale, which GayCities will stream live from NYC this September.”

Saturday, August 17, Station 4 will host the “Most Original Stoli Guy” competition. The event has been planned for months, long before the Stoli boycott. Unfortunately for Stoli, their little PR stunt has backfired. All three organizations that they promised to donate to don’t want their money. Equality Texas wasn’t even aware of the donation campaign.

“We have no relationship with Stoli,” Chuck Smith, the Executive Director of Equality Texas told Anna Waugh of the Dallas Voice. “We would not accept money from Stoli.”

HRC and Equality CA also have said they want nothing to do with the event.

“The Human Rights Campaign is not participating in The Most Original Stoli Guy events and is not accepting any donations related to these events or otherwise from Stoli. The press release indicating our participation was flat out wrong and the event organizers have unfortunately not provided any information to substantiate their claim,” HRC told Joe. My. God.

Oops.