Ben & Jerry’s bans same flavoured ice-cream in fight for marriage equality
Ben & Jerry’s has banned customers from ordering two scoops of the same ice-cream flavour in a fight for marriage equality in Australia.
The ice-cream company said it will not allow customers to order two of the same flavoured scoops until same-sex couples are legally allowed to marry in Australia.
At every one of its 26 stores nationally, Ben & Jerry’s has set up a postal system where customers can have their say and hand-write letters to MPs.
Ben & Jerry’s staff will then deliver the letters directly to local MPs.
In partnership with The Equality Campaign, Ben & Jerry’s launched the initiative as politicians prepare to return to Canberra to discuss the issue.
Imogen Rugg, Ben & Jerry’s Australia spokesperson, said in a statement: “We are proud to be standing alongside The Equality Campaign to continue the fight for marriage equality in Australia.
“More Australians than ever before believe everyone should have the right to love who they love – and marry them too. Let’s make it happen! Go to your local scoop shop to send a message to local MPs to tell them you support marriage equality and you want them to take action now.”
“Marriage equality will not change anything for the vast majority of Australians, but will make a profound difference to the status and dignity of many. No one will be less married or more gay with civil marriage equality,” said Tiernan Brady, executive director at The Equality Campaign.
Supporters can go to www.equalitycampaign.org.au to find tools to lobby their MPs and hold local events, he said.
“Our message to MPs is that this issue is not going away until parliament respects the will of the Australian people and passes marriage equality,” Brady said.
Abigail Dawson was Mumbrella's senior content journalist covering event content. She left Mumbrella to move into an agency role in 2020.
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Have you noticed that no one is complaining, whinging, crying, boycotting, naming/shaming, writing to MPs, raising flags at Council chambers, protesting, suiciding, trashing offices, making death threats, taking to court or reporting to Human rights Commissioner because they cannot get same-same ice cream scoops…..so the same sex marriage people should do the same and accept that they cannot get same-same marriage in the same way as we can’t get same-same ice cream. Just leave marriage alone in the same way as we leave the ice cream alone. The ice cream people are making a pont which also works in the opposite direction.
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I’m sorry Neil but your argument doesn’t make sense. Ben & Jerry’s are perfectly entitled to stand up for what they believe in, in the same way you are. And they are doing it in a fun, non-threatening way, exactly like an ice cream brand should behave.
I love this idea, and in my opinion is a great step forward. Australia will eventually legalise same-sex marriage. It is inevitable. Taiwan has just announced they are doing this. Taiwan. In a region far more conservative than ours. So it is only a matter of time. I would not waste any more energy fighting it.
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To whoever wrote the above comment, you are [edited under Mumbrella’s comment moderation policy].
We ALL deserve the same rights, no matter who we choose to date, or marry. This isn’t about homophobia it’s about equality!
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One thing on my mind, and I’m sure it will be on others –
I hope Ben and Jerry have done this elsewhere, or have a track record of concern on this topic, if so they need to communicate that pronto!
Otherwise using marriage equality for a marketing opportunity isn’t cool.
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They’ve been active since 1996.
http://www.benandjerry.com.au/.....e-equality
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I am in full support of marriage equality. If I want to order my son’s regular double scoop of Ben and Jerry Mango Sorbet does this mean I will have to order two serves individually, then combine them. Costs me more, makes it difficult. Stupid idea. What genius determined that there is a link between withdrawing fundamental customer service to positive protest. They’ve lost me.
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Pretty sure your son will be ok with one scoop. This is not a big issue.
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Yep. This is totally on-brand for Ben and Jerrys. Alexia, nobody was trying to make this about homophobia. Only you did that.
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Oh God, all we need right now is more corporate narcissism like this!
Keep both hands steering the wheel of business, rather than have one hand waving for attention and the other w**king, and you’ll earn consumer respect.
Interesting to notethe absolute cone of silence this week from gay activists when young gay men were publicly flogged in Indonesia for being gay. Moral relativism when it comes to Islam?
Yes, we all thought so.
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In case you need any convincing about Ben & Jerry’s moral standpoint.
http://www.benjerry.com/whats-.....ost-values
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Ben & Jerry?
More like Tom & Jerry, you are sick puppies
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