San Francisco, California – Barangay, the socio-political organization of Filipino American LGBTs in the San Francisco Bay Area, has joined the worldwide boycott of Barilla pasta and other products.

Gay rights activists have launched a boycott of the world’s leading pasta maker after its chairman said he would only portray the “classic family” in his advertisements and, if people objected to that, they should feel free to eat a different kind of pasta.

Guido Barilla, who controls the fourth-generation Barilla Group family business with his two brothers, sparked outrage among activists, consumers and some politicians when he said he would not consider using a gay family to advertise Barilla pasta.

Barangay is taking the boycott a step farther. The group will stage a cookout and bake sale at the corner of Castro and 18th streets in San Francisco for the entire week preceding the Castro Street Fair. Organization members and supporters will not only be distributing fliers urging the consuming public to boycott all Barilla products, but will be selling home-cooked pancit (noodles) and home-baked pan de sal (salted breakfast rolls) .  “This is a great opportunity for us to showcase our delicious noodle dishes which are a perfect substitute for Barilla pasta,” organizers said. 

Different types of Filipino noodle dishes will be showcased at the planned cookout sale, ranging from Pancit Bihon to Pancit  Canton, from Pancit Palabok to Pancit Sotanghon, and many other noodle-based dishes.