Bristol-Myers Squibb Rep's Anti-Gay Marriage Donation Spurs Debate

A Bristol-Myers Squibb employee who donated money to campaigners in favor of California's Proposition 8 to ban gay marriage has caused controversy within the company -- or at least on the notoriously feisty Cafe Pharma bulletin boards. Drew Dellenbach identified himself as an employee of BMS when he made two donations, one for $1,000 and one for $500, to ProtectMarriage.com, a committee campaigning against gay marriage. That caught the attention of someone familiar with Cafe Pharma, who has decided to "out" Dellenbach as someone who doesn't like gays getting married:

Sadly, a Bristol-Myers Squibb employee working in the sales function chose to bring BMS into the debate. Drew Dellenbach of Corona California, according to "Yes on 8" donation records, donated $1500 to support this hotly debated political issue. As citizens we are all entitled to our own opinions, however Mr. Dellenbach chose to identify as a representative of BMS in this political issue.

Bristol-Myers Squibb has a long and positive track record with the gay community which purchases massive quantities of BMS HIV treatments. ... I call on BMS to investigate this matter and discipline the rogue Mr. Dellenbach. Perhaps he will understand what it means to be a minority when he joins the ranks of the unemployed.

So what if this guy donated his own buck against the same sex marriage proposition? The guy's got a right to his own opinion and the Company shouldn't be judged on the basis of the socio-political leanings of some chump in the field.

There is no bad press on BMS based on the actions of this employee. The only ripple is the crap that is posted here. If this hits the "press", it won't be any mainstream, respectable press.