The Anglo File

Christian Group Boycotts UK Supermarket Because Of Gay Executive’s Comment

Tesco, one of the largest supermarket/retail chains in the United Kingdom, is in hot water with religious groups because one of the companyā€™s top honchos took a personal stand against anti-gay Christians. Back in 2008 Nick Lansley, the companyā€™s openly gay head of Research and Development, wrote on his Flickr profile page, ā€œIā€™mā€¦campaigning against evil Christians (thatā€™s not all Christians, just bad ones) who think that gay people should not lead happy lives and get married to their same-sex partners.ā€

Not that weā€™re taking sides, but good for you, Nick.

Now, some three years after the comment was made, the Christian Instituteā€”a nondenominational charity dedicated to ā€œthe furtherance and promotion of the Christian religion in the United Kingdomā€ is backing a boycott of Tesco. (Delayed reaction much?)

The boycott is also prompted by Tesco making a Ā£30,000 (roughly $47, 000) donation to London Pride. (Which, by the way, is just a paltry 0.05% of the companyā€™s total annual donations.

ā€œI wonā€™t be shopping at Tesco this Christmas, and I am repeatedly hearing from other Christians who have already come to the same conclusion,ā€ Christian Institute Colin Hart said, ā€œMr Lansley is entitled to his opinions, and Christians are entitled to choose not to shop at Tesco.ā€

Weā€™re sure youā€™re on Santaā€™s naughty list, Mr. Hart.

A Tesco spokesman told the Telegraph, ā€œMr Lansleyā€™s comments, made in a personal capacity in 2008, in no way reflect the views of Tescoā€¦Ā We are very sorry that anyone might have thought that there was any blurring of the boundary between his personal comments and his work for Tesco. We have therefore asked him to remove the comments, and he has done so.ā€

So Lansley (at left), made a private comment on his photo pageā€”one thatā€™s in no way connected to his jobā€”and his employer should be published? If Lansley was a Fundamentalist Christian who posted a comment bashing marriage equality, you can bet Hart and his cronies would be defending his remarks from all comers.

Weā€™re disappointed Tesco made Lansley, whoā€™s been with the company for 23 year, take down his comment and is distancing itself from his sentiment. But good on them for giving a big check to London Pride.

To our UK readers, pop in and buy a packet of biscuits. Tell ā€™em Queerty sent you.

Images via Mark Hillary, Nick Lansley

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