BUSINESS

The CEO and president of the Hallmark Channel’s parent company has stepped down after a botched attempt to handle backlash over a fleeting lesbian kiss in an advert. Bill Abbott worked with Crown Media for 11 years, and the company did not give a reason for his departure. The Hallmark Channel was originally slammed for showing the 30-second advert by right-wing religious hate group One Million Moms. The advert for wedding-planning website Zola showed two women getting married. While at the altar, they discuss how Zola made their wedding planning...

Despite immense backlash over its funding of anti-LGBT+ organisations, Chick-fil-A has insisted that it will push forward with opening a “permanent” UK location. The statement comes on the same day that the UK’s only remaining Chick-fil-A shut its doors after facing a fierce public boycott. A second location in a shopping centre in Reading was also forced to close after sustained pressure from LGBT+ activists. The chicken chain said the closure of the restaurant inside the Macdonald Aviemore Resort in the Scottish Highlands was not related to the backlash, despite a petition...

A gay man who was repeatedly called a “f****t” by his work colleague has been awarded €27,000 for homophobic harassment. The Workplace Relations Commission in Ireland heard that the man’s co-worker had described him as a “f****t” to another colleague, and said: “I better not sit beside him, or I’ll catch the gayness from him.” He said that the harassment against him took place on a daily basis, with constant sniggering and “juvenile” stereotypes aimed at him. This made him feel threatened and humiliated, the WRC heard. The man said...

American Family Association’s One Million Moms (or rather the one meddling mom with a keyboard, Monica Cole), who for the blink of an eye caused the Hallmark Channel to drop a gay-themed ad last year, is coming for Burger King for its use of the ‘D’ word. Cole didn’t specify which ‘D’ word she meant, but we scoured the current BK ads and unfortunately couldn’t find any “dick” so we assume she means the ad below which has been airing since summer, in which a man tastes the burger before...

An ad by e-commerce and tech multinational conglomerate Alibaba has been praised by gay communities in China for depicting, and supporting, same-sex couples. The Chinese company’s ad was circulated on Chinese social media and showed two men returning to one of their homes for Chinese New Year.  Alibaba’s Tmall promo subtly shows gay and lesbian couples celebrating new year with their families. The ad doesn’t explicitly mention LGBTQ but it’s a rare representation done by a big Chinese company. pic.twitter.com/SxBYR4ekym — Toni (but what’s your *real* name?) (@tony_zy) January 8,...