Gay Rights Activists Call On Procter & Gamble To Stop Advertising On Russian TV Network

Gay rights advocates called on Procter & Gamble to pull out its advertising from Russian TV network Rossiya1 after newscaster Dmitry Kiselev said gays should be banned from donating blood and sperm. P&G is the TV network’s biggest advertisers and, hence, is one of the LGBT community’s most important incidental targets as they campaign against Russia’s anti-gay laws. Today, consumers think large companies owe them their support in fighting social issues, such as gay rights. Consumers are empowered by the Internet, which informs them about whatever a brand does even in the farthest markets. P&G faces a dilemma: heeding the LGBT community’s call is likely to make it run afoul of Russian authorities; however, deciding otherwise could bring about gay activists calling for a boycott of P&G products in countries with strong LGBT presence.