A central Ohio Kroger shopper was shocked to read one of the questions on the online survey the company offers at the bottom of their receipts. The Ohio-based grocer has expanded the list of gender options from two, male and female, to four, including “gender fluid/non-binary” and “prefer not to answer.” It is not the first time Kroger has embraced far-left progressive issues.
The shopper, who preferred to remain anonymous, told The Ohio Star, “I most likely will not shop there anymore.”
Although she was surprised by the gender question, Kroger actually embraced pro-LGBT policies years ago.
In 2014, a Kroger store in Atlanta, Georgia gave customers the option to donate to LGBT causes. “Give back to @LostNFoundYouth & other #LGBT orgs while @kroger-ing,” Project Q posted.
Give back to @LostNFoundYouth & other #LGBT orgs while @kroger-ing. Easy: http://t.co/mJfTNRASSb pic.twitter.com/hosvq0iYQC
— Project Q Atlanta | Q Magazine (@ProjectQAtlanta) April 15, 2014
The Glass Closet, a twitter handle based upon the book of the same name which, “…seeks to unsettle business leaders by exposing the culture of homophobia that remains rampant in corporations around the world, and which prevents employees from showing their authentic selves,” announced Kroger had extended healthcare to trans-employees that includes sex changes and hormone treatments back in 2015. “American supermarket @kroger extends full health benefits to trans staff,” they tweeted.
American supermarket @kroger extends full health benefits to trans staff http://t.co/iBpPmB0FC4 #LGBT pic.twitter.com/b6i2DkRuC5
— The Glass Closet (@GlassClosetOrg) October 15, 2015
“Support TEP by linking your Kroger PLUS card to us at http://bit.ly/TEPKroger . Instructions on the picture. THANKS!” was shared by The Tennessee Equality Project.
Support TEP by linking your Kroger PLUS card to us at https://t.co/dFsgmAIx4F . Instructions on the picture. THANKS! pic.twitter.com/U6arQ1L8Dh
— TN Equality Project (@tnequality) February 1, 2017
Houston Krogers displayed its Pride support so loudly in 2017 it was noticed on a local news station, which tweeted, “This is one of the most amazing things I’ve ever seen! Thank you @kroger #Houston #BuffaloSpeedway for supporting equality! #LGBT #Pride.”
This is one of the most amazing things I've ever seen! Thank you @kroger #Houston #BuffaloSpeedway for supporting equality! #LGBT #Pride pic.twitter.com/2tH696Qvz2
— Brandon De Hoyos (@BrandonABC13) June 7, 2017
Earlier this year, “Cincinnati-based @FifthThird, @FBT_law, @kroger, @Macys & @ProcterGamble earned perfect scores on the @HRC 2019 Corporate Equality Index. Congrats!” the Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce proudly tweeted.
Cincinnati-based @FifthThird, @FBT_law, @kroger, @Macys & @ProcterGamble earned perfect scores on the @HRC 2019 Corporate Equality Index. Congrats! https://t.co/D1RMYXmORW pic.twitter.com/lZ91Nj3232
— Cincinnati Chamber (@CincyChamber) April 3, 2019
A quick search of similar businesses in the Central Ohio area confirms that Meijer and Giant Eagle support LGBT activism as well. Levels of support appear to be fluid, depending on individuals stores.
For more information on corporations actively supporting far-left LGBT policies, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) has a report called the Corporate Equality Index, Rating Workplaces on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Equality. HRC gives Kroger a 100 CEI score (Corporate Equality Index) along with several other Cincinnati-based companies.
Another business that rates companies and organizations based upon their ideology is 2nd Vote. They rate on a scale from 1, liberal-supporting to 5, conservative-supporting. A score of “3” indicates neutrality. Aldi is rated 3, Meijer 2.6 and Kroger a 1.6; Giant Eagle is not rated. 2nd Vote even has an App for finding ratings quickly.
Mission America’s Linda Harvey shared her thoughts with The Ohio Star about Kroger’s latest foray into leftist causes. “It’s really an affront to families and people of faith, not to mention a contradiction to biological truth, when corporations ally with culture-degrading ‘LGBT’ activism,” Harvey said. “Kroger celebrated June ‘pride’ month and many of us have stopped shopping there.”
Harvey recommended Ohioans express their concerns about businesses like Kroger pushing a Left-Wing ideology on customers. She suggested, “People should contact the stores they shop at and talk to the managers as well as writing an email to the corporate headquarters.”
Pastor Bob Burney agreed with Harvey. The local talk show host on WRFD The Word suggested, “A kind, but firm call to corporate headquarters is in order.”
Kroger was founded inn 1883 by Barney Kroger. The website says he, “…invested his life savings of $372 to open a grocery store at 66 Pearl Street in downtown Cincinnati.” Today Kroger has nearly 2,800 stores in 35 states. Their annual sales exceed $121.1 billion.
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Beth Lear is a reporter at The Ohio Star. Follow Beth on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Kroger Store” by Kroger.
