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TOMS Shoe Founder Apologizes For Speaking At Anti-Gay Christian Group Event
By
Jamie Feldmar
Published Jul 11, 2011
Modified Jul 11, 2011
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By
Jamie Feldmar
Published Jul 11, 2011
Modified Jul 11, 2011
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Last week, we reported that TOMS Shoes founder Blake Mycoskie spoke at a California event sponsored by Focus On The Family, a right-wing evangelical Christian group with a strong anti-homosexuality agenda, and we weren't the only ones who noticed. Now, following criticism from multiple parties, Mycoskie responds.
"Had I known the full extent of Focus on the Family’s beliefs, I would not have accepted the invitation to speak at their event. It was an oversight on my part and the company’s part and one we regret. In the last 18 months we have presented at over 70 different engagements and we do our best to make sure we choose our engagements wisely, on this one we chose poorly. Furthermore, contrary to what has been reported, Focus on the Family is not a TOMS giving partner. So there is no misunderstanding created by this mistake, let me clearly state that both TOMS, and I as the founder, are passionate believers in equal human and civil rights for all. That belief is a core value of the company and of which we are most proud," reads the note on the TOMS site.
Mycoskie does not specificity which of FOTF's "beliefs" he disagrees with, nor did the company respond to our request for comment. FOTF issued their own response to TOMS, saying Mycoskie's apology was an "unfortunate statement about the culture we live in, when an organization like ours is deemed unfit over beliefs about marriage. It's also a chilling statement about the future of the culture we live in."
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