''From the very beginning of our 30 year history, we have supported equal rights for all people. The legalization of marriage for gay and lesbian couples in Vermont is certainly a step in the right direction and something worth celebrating with peace, love and plenty of ice cream.''
Walt Freese, CEO of Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream, explaining in a press release why the company has renamed their popular flavor "Chubby Hubby" to "Hubby Hubby" for the month of September. Vermont began to perform and register marriages for gay and lesbian couples on September 1. Same-sex marriages remain a hot obsession of many conservative, religious, political organizations, and in the case of both Maine and Washington state this week, they have succeeded in submitting enough petition signatures to put gay marriage and marriage-like laws up for a public vote. Most agree that the American public remains, at best, slightly skewed toward the rejection of marriage equality, but often favors a compromise of civil unions. Here in DC, similar efforts are being spearheaded by Catholic, Evangelical and Baptist political groups. (Reuters)
''Homosexuality is wrong and disgusting, but I'll take free ice cream.''
A woman with her child in tow appearing briefly at the end of a CBS News video. She yells at workers in a Ben & Jerry's ice cream van who are offering free samples of "Hubby Hubby." The flavor is actually a renamed version of their popular "Chubby Hubby." which has been renamed for the month of September in celebration of the expansion of marriage to gay men and lesbians in Vermont. (CBS via YouTube)
