The Catholic League has expanded its call to boycott Guinness, asking 260 bars across the southern states to abstain from selling the Irish stout.
League President Bill Donahue released a statement Monday announcing that pubs in Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas were contacted about joining the protest.
The League's boycott began in March, when Guinness, Sam Adams, and Heineken pulled out of the New York and Boston St. Patrick's Day parades because LGBT advocacy groups are not allowed to march under identifying flags or banners.
The Catholic rights organisation initially announced a boycott of all three brands, but decided on March 18 to concentrate solely on Guinness. They said that a singular focus makes their campaign more effective.
"We have chosen Guinness (owned by Diageo) for two reasons: (a) when multiple targets are selected for a boycott, the effectiveness of the effort is diluted, and (b) Guinness is the biggest and most prominent of the three brewers," the League wrote in a press release.
The group blamed the beer company's parade withdrawal on anti-Catholicism.
"Gay activists, and their tony heterosexual buddies, don't have a beef with the Irish—they seek to punish Catholics for holding to traditional moral beliefs. It's the religious element to these parades, not the ethnic factor, that is motivating Guinness to act like a corporate bully," the release read.
The Catholic League began contacting pubs across the United States, as well as fellow Catholics, Diageo officials, media outlets, and advocacy groups to bring attention to the boycott. On CatholicLeague.org, visitors can sign a petition in support of the organisation's protest.
The League said that the St Patrick's Day parades are not exclusive, but are solely to honour St Patrick.
"Gays have never been barred from marching in any St. Patrick's Day parade—they simply cannot march under their own banner. Neither can pro-life Catholics," their petition reads.
"It is not about any other cause. That's why we have parades that celebrate other causes: it's called respect for diversity."
