Ben And Jerry Back Gay-Marriage Movement With Ice Cream

Nobody makes a statement about anything quite like Vermont confectioners Ben & Jerry do with ice cream.

This time the socially conscious ice cream purveyors have taken the gay-marriage acceptance discussion across the pond, according to the Associated Press. The Ben & Jerry's brand has released "Apple-y Ever After" - a repacking of "Oh! My! Apple Pie!" decorated with same-sex wedding figurines atop a wedding cake decorated with rainbows - to voice their support for Britain's gay couples lobbying for the right to be legally wed.

The British Parliament has taken the debate up recently, but the brand repackaged its Chubby Hubby flavor as Hubby Hubby when Vermont passed its own law two years ago allowing same-sex couples to marry.

Previously, the Ben & Jerry's brand has always had a progressive bent. Every carton sold takes care to note on the packaging that the sweet goodness inside contains only milk from growth hormone-free cows. In 2006, Ben & Jerry's started distributing their first Fairtrade-certified ice cream, and promised that all ingredients possible would be so certified by 2011. As of 2009, all proceeds from the sale of the Yes Pecan flavor benefit the Common Cause Education Fund.

Though a business-savvy move to be positively associated with a cause whose support is mounting, gestures like this can have pivotal symbolism. Ben & Jerry's is an "American-original" brand, so there's somewhat of an inherent, unconscious association that's possible by an American brand supporting equal rights overseas.

Besides, whoever you sleep with, you're only really weird if you don't like love ice cream.