WASHINGTON - Ben & Jerry’s, known for its euphoric ice cream flavors and
dedication to social justice, celebrates the beginning of the freedom to marry
for gay and lesbian couples in Vermont with the symbolic renaming of its
well-known ice cream flavor “Chubby Hubby” to “Hubby
Hubby.”  In partnership with Freedom to Marry, Ben &
Jerry’s aims to raise awareness of the importance of marriage equality
and, to show its support, will serve “Hubby Hubby” sundaes in Vermont
Scoop Shops throughout the month of September.

Ben &
Jerry’s has a long history of commitment to social justice, including gay
rights.  Its partnership with Freedom to Marry, a national leader in the
movement for marriage equality, aims to raise awareness of the importance of
marriage equality and to encourage other states to follow the blazing trails of
Vermont, Massachusetts,
Connecticut, Iowa,
New Hampshire, and Maine.   Freedom to Marry promotes
the national conversation about why marriage equality matters and brings
together partner organizations into a larger whole – a shared civil
rights campaign.

“At
the core of Ben & Jerry’s values, we believe that social justice can
and should be something that every human being is entitled to,” said Walt
Freese, Chief Executive Officer of Ben & Jerry’s. “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.”

To kick
off the celebration, Ben & Jerry’s and Freedom to Marry will be
publicly supporting the first marriages of gay and lesbian couples in Vermont
and raising awareness for marriage equality and how to take action by driving
consumers to freedomtomarry.org.   By logging onto the site, people
can show their support, sign a Marriage Resolution Petition, have conversations
about why marriage matters and learn more about how they can support the cause.  

“It’s
not polite to talk with your mouth full, but the most important thing that all
us ice cream lovers can do to support the freedom to marry is speak with the
people we know about why marriage matters and the need to end marriage
discrimination in every state”,” said Evan
Wolfson, executive director of Freedom to Marry and author of
Why Marriage Matters: America, Equality and Gay People's
Right to Marry.  “Thanks to Ben & Jerry’s,
starting those needed conversations has never been sweeter – and thanks
to Freedom to Marry, we all now have a great excuse to eat more ice
cream.”

For more
information on why marriage equality matters and to take action in your state,
please log on to www.freedomtomarry.org.  To find your
local Ben & Jerry’s Scoop Shop or learn more about Ben &
Jerry’s social mission, log onto www.Facebook.com/benjerry.  Also,
don’t forget to visit us on www.benjerry.com.

Read
Online: http://freedomtomarry.org/press_center/ben_&_jerry%27s_renames_legendary_flavor.php

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Freedom to Marry is the gay and non-gay partnership
working to win marriage equality nationwide. Launched in 2003, Freedom to Marry
is headed by Evan Wolfson, nationally recognized as a central "architect
of the marriage equality movement." Freedom to Marry guides and focuses
this social justice movement on a nationwide level, serving as a strategy and
support center for national, state, and local partners, a catalyst that drives
and shapes the national debate on marriage equality, and an alliance-builder
fostering support from non-gay allies.

Ben & Jerry’s produces a wide variety of super-premium
ice cream and ice cream novelties, using high-quality ingredients including
milk and cream from family farmers who do not treat their cows with the
synthetic hormone rBGH. The company states its position on rBGH on its labels.
Ben and Jerry’s products are distributed nationwide and in selected
foreign countries in supermarkets, grocery stores, convenience stores,
franchise Ben & Jerry’s Scoop Shops, restaurants and other venues.
Ben & Jerry’s, a Vermont corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of
Unilever, operates its business on a three-part Mission Statement emphasizing
product quality, economic reward and a commitment to the community.
Contributions made via the employee led Ben & Jerry’s Foundation in
2008 totaled over $1.9 million. Additionally, the company makes significant
product donations to community groups and nonprofits both in Vermont and across the nation. The purpose
of Ben & Jerry’s philanthropy is to support the founding values of
the company: economic and social justice, environmental restoration and peace
through understanding, and to support our Vermont communities. For the full scoop on
all Ben & Jerry’s Scoop Shop locations and fabulous flavors, visit
www.benjerry.com.