Franklin Graham is vowing to move all the bank accounts for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association out of Wells Fargo in protest of its advertisement featuring a lesbian couple.
"This is one way we as Christians can speak out – we have the power of choice," Graham, who who heads the Charlotte-based organization named after his famed father,
wrote on Facebook last Friday.
"Let’s just stop doing business with those who promote sin and stand against Almighty God’s laws and His standards. Maybe if enough of us do this, it will get their attention."
Graham also called out the iconic jewelry company, Tiffany's, for "advertising wedding rings for gay couples. …. guess what—we don’t have to shop at Tiffany & Co., there are plenty of other jewelry stores."
By Monday evening, more than 93,700 people had endorsed Graham's social media message, and more than 41,700 had shared the post.
A Wells Fargo spokesperson was unapologetic, saying the bank values the diversity of its customers and employees and has supported the LGBT community for a long time,
the Charlotte Observer reports.
"At Wells Fargo, serving every customer is core to our vision and values," said Christina Kolbjornsen. "Diversity and inclusion are foundational to who we are as a company. Our advertising content reflects our company’s values and represents the diversity of the communities we serve."
In the Wells Fargo ad, a lesbian couple are shown learning sign language for their adopted daughter. "Hello beautiful," one of the woman signs to the child. "We’re going to be your new mommies."
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The newspaper notes Graham's global charity Samaritan’s Purse and the evangelical association raise millions of dollars.
Graham's boycott call was met with support – and derision – on Twitter.
One supporter wrote:
while a critic noted:
Graham has been using Facebook in recent weeks also to call on followers
to pray for U.S. Supreme Court justices as they consider the right of same-sex couples to marry anywhere in the United States.
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