Macy's removes display marking local gay pride week

[benburch]

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2006/06/07/macys_removes_display_marking_local_gay_pride_week/



June 7, 2006

BOSTON --Macy's department store has altered a window display marking Boston's gay pride week after a group that opposes gay marriage complained it was offensive.

The display at the downtown Boston store featured two male mannequins, with one wearing a gay pride rainbow flag around his waist, next to a list of several planned Boston Pride Week events.

The mannequins were removed after MassResistance, formerly the Article 8 Alliance, which has campaigned against gay marriage and gay-themed textbooks in public schools, objected to the display.

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Okay, folks, I call on ALL of you to BOYCOTT MACY'S until they make proper amends for this. They knuckled under to the WORST of the Christian Right, and need to be made to understand that this is going to cost them a fortune.

[NMMNG]

1. Damn straight

I am sick and tired of the religious wrong calling all the freaking shots. From now on, any business that bows to their antics will get not one penny from me--and they will hear about it too. Maybe they'll decide that kowtowing to the loud and obnoxious is not as appealing as it seems.

[GodlessBiker]

2. I emailed Macy's to register my digust and told them I will not shop there

[swimmernsecretsea]

3. OK, that was an idiot move on Macy's part.

Who do they think they were helping by doing that? Themselves? What kind of massive Christian Right shopping spree do they think they were going to miss out on! Uh, this sounds like I'm being too general, but what's the first thing that comes to mind when you think of who is behind the sales counters and holding shopping bags at a fashionable department store? Duh!

[davidinalameda]

5. the Church Lady?

:shrug:

these people are too busy at Wal-Mart to shop at Macy's

[sui generis]

4. what I wrote

In a state that recognizes equal marriage you have bowed to the conservatives least likely to spend money in your stores to remove a display that offended these people. Of all of your customers, gay customers have the highest disposable income per capita, and we dispose of it.

While I applaud the fact that you stepped up to the plate with your initial display recognizing the diversity of your customer base, your choice under the slightest pressure to cave into bigotry over equality takes you off my shopping list.

What next, if these same people have a problem with your gay employees? What if they don't want you to sell to your gay customers?

That is in fact what they have achieved, and you fell for it.

Until there is an honest and believable public statement by you to our community you have lost us as customers to stores that actually do recognize diversity. Yesterday you made us feel included and recognized.

Tomorrow I'm sure you'll be taking down the ethnic mannequins because some white supremacist group complained.

[GodlessBiker]

6. Bravo! More eloquent than my email.

[GodlessBiker]

7. Macy's inadequate response to my email...

The response doesn't even address why the window was changed:

Macy's has a long-standing and respected history of support for diversity. Our company philosophy is deeply rooted in diversity and inclusiveness. As such, we support a variety of causes in the communities that we serve. Our commitment and celebration of Gay Pride has been traditionally commemorated in our window displays. Our annual support of Gay Pride Week in Boston and in other cities where we operate clearly demonstrates our commitment to diversity. Macy's commitment to diversity will continue to be an important part of our company and community outreach as we celebrate Gay Pride festivities this month and in the future.

Sincerely,

Mr. Terry Lee Ousley
Customer Service Coordinator
Macy’s East / Sue McMahon’s Office

[swimmernsecretsea]

8. Translation:

Blah blah blah diversity. Blah blah blah diversity blah inclusiveness. Blah blah blah blah diversity. Blah blah blah blah community outreach, blah blah blah.

Sincerely,
Asskiss
Liar
Corporate Whore

[kevinbgoode]

9. I guess their celebration of Gay Pride

is best symbolized by the removal of mannequins depicting members of our community to the company CLOSET.

After all, isn't PRIDE all about going BACK into the CLOSET?

[GodlessBiker]

10. That's a good way to put it. They put us back in the closet.