Call WALMART and protest them folding to the American Family Association

[kevinbgoode]

cross-posted. . .

Now I know many of you don't bother shopping at WalMart anyway for a variety of reasons - but this latest crap has done more than just push me over the line. After the American Family Association issued demands to regulate the tone of advertising for the retail giant (and WalMart agreed -for the holy-day rightwing Christian-only season), they've now attempted to issue a public statement to pander to the unfounded complaints of the American "Family" Association that contributions to the GLBT organizations and membership in the GLBT Chamber of Commerce constituted an endorsement of the homosexual marriage agenda.

WalMart issued a statement which said the company does not contribute money to any "highly controversial" issues or organizations but that it is committed to the concept of diversity in the workplace, a stunning statement since the American "Family" Association believes that discrimination in the workplace against gay Americans is necessary to preserve our "moral" society.
What is even more interesting is that WalMart doesn't seem to have any problem contributing large amounts to both the Boy Scouts and the Salvation Army, both organizations of a highly controversial nature who practice public discrimination in the employment of gay Americans.

What this means, (at least to me) is that WalMart only considers issues "controversial" if the American "Family" Association and/or some other rightwing "religious" organization sends massive autobot mailings to the company complaining about them marketing to any other Americans. In their mind, WalMart exists exclusively for the AFA-designated "christian" family, and something as innocent as even carrying "Brokeback Mountain" is an assault on true AFA-defined "Christian" values.

Please take a few minutes and call WalMart and let them know that you have AMERICAN values, and those values prohibit you from doing business with any company which has its policies controlled by some fringe right wing "religious" organization such as WalMart. Point out that the AFA dictates holiday season advertising to them and now they are dictating a duplicitous company policy defining for them what a "controversial" issue is. WalMart has claimed it made changes to their policy in regards to gay Americans in response to "concerns from customers and employees" rather than the American "Family" Association. ASK them how a company that claims to be committed to diversity in the workplace would stand there and listen to religious bigot customers and employees degrade ANOTHER group of customers and employees, and then claim to make a blanket policy from such "concern." Then ask them why they are giving money to the Boy Scouts and the Salvation Army, when both organizations go against the very diversity principles and avoidance of controversy that their "new" policy establishes.

Here is their contact number. By the way, feel free to spout off any of your other objections to their way of doing business anyway. It's time this company heard from someone besides the American "Family" Association.

Contact: 1-800-925-6278

You'll have a few recorded buttons to push, but they'll pick up the phone and record your complaint. And don't be afraid to let them know that you have a problem shopping at stores which endorse the political agenda of the American "Family" Association and advocate sales of only religious items that appeal exclusively to their membership. It's time we let these nutcases have it right back.

[GodlessBiker]

1. What, exactly, am I protesting? What did Walmart do (lately)?

You're right, I don't shop at Walmart. But I have called them in the past to complain. Sales of only religious items? You mean necklaces with crosses on them are 20% off but plain necklaces are not on sale?

[kevinbgoode]

2. Um no. . .they issued a statement saying they don't

contribute money to "highly controversial" issues on either side. . .to placate the American "Family" Association because the AFA doesn't like that they carry Brokeback Mountain and joined the Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce.

Of course, they don't recognize giving lots of money to the Boy Scouts and the Salvation Army as "controversial" even though these organizations won't hire gay Americans and remain highly controversial for that reason. Moreover, the company stated it had a very strong commitment to employment diversity, except apparently when the American "Family" Association threatens them. If the company has a policy of not contributing money to any controversial issues, then why are they giving money to two organizations which don't come even close to adhering to WalMart's claim to commitment to employment diversity?

The point is that this company has now TWICE announced it would placate the American "Family" Association - and this time they are saying they changed their policy because of concerns from "employees and customers." Does that mean they allowed employees and customers to violate their big diversity policy by degrading the interests of their GAY employees?

[GodlessBiker]

3. They joined the Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce? Wow. Whoda thunk it.

Okay. I will call and complain that they should stick to their own rules and not donate to the Boy Scouts or the Salvation Army because those organizations are controversial.

[bluedawg12]

5. Protest anti-gay AFA

http://www.afa.net/about.asp

Disney/ABC cancels the pro-homosexual show Ellen, for "lack of ratings." AFA led the campaign to encourage responsible advertisers to drop from the show.


Does AFA Hate Homosexuals?
Absolutely Not! The same Holy Bible that calls us to reject sin, calls us to love our neighbor. It is that love that motivates us to expose the misrepresentation of the radical homosexual agenda and stop its spread though our culture. AFA has sponsored several events reaching out to homosexuals and letting them know there is love and healing at the Cross of Christ.

..........

WalMart gave money to a gay cause and did not back down.

[bluedawg12]

4. Don't you have it backwards?

Isn't WalMart sticking to it's guns and getting boycotted this week end?

http://walmartwatch.com/blog/archives/christian_groups_seek_wal_mart_boycott/

>>Conservative Christian organizations are contacting supporters to urge a Thanksgiving weekend boycott of Wal-Mart Stores Inc. because the company is paying a commission to a small gay organization for sending buyers its way<<

Yes, contibuting to a gay and lesbian organization is contorversial. That's a fact not offensive.

The fact that they did not recall their donation means that they don't consider this as "high;y controversial."

I am pleased with WalMart, if I understand them correctly, and totally nauseated by the pin heads that want to block my way with their hate speech and proganda when or if I try to go wallymart shopping today.

[Christian30]

6. Fuck Walmart

No one should shop there and any organization that takes their money is in bed with Satan. And I say that as a fundraiser. There are certain companies that we should not be in bed with. I was disgusted that the Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce allowed them in.