Plugged-in: Wal-Mart shuns gay groups

[Ian David]

Source: Fortune Magazine / CNNMoney.com

World's largest retailer stops donating to gay-rights organizations. Fortune's Marc Gunther reports.

By Marc Gunther, Fortune senior writer
June 22 2007: 11:52 AM EDT

NEW YORK (FORTUNE) -- Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer, has decided to curb its support of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) organizations after conservative Christian groups threatened a boycott, and after some of its own employees expressed disapproval.

The move comes a year after Wal-Mart (Charts, Fortune 500) had put on a gay-friendly smile. The company joined the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. It sponsored the annual convention of Out & Equal, a group that promotes gay rights in the workplace, and sold gay-themed jewelry in stores.

"We are not currently planning corporate-level contributions to GLBT groups," said Mona Williams, the company's senior vice president of corporate communications. Individual stores can still donate to gay groups.

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Still, some members of the group had hoped that Wal-Mart would by now have taken a major step towards workplace equality by offering health care benefits to the domestic partners of its GLBT employees. More than half of FORTUNE 500 companies do so.

Read more: http://money.cnn.com/2007/06/22/magazines/fortune/pluggedin_gunther_walmart.fortune/index.htm?postversion=2007062211

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See also:

Wal-Mart Withdraws Support for Equal Rights

<snip>

In addition, it appears that Wal-Mart's position exposes a real hypocrisy in how it defines "highly controversial causes." Wal-Mart has contributed to many right wing Republican politicians and causes in America. It's time to ask the question, "How does Wal-Mart define 'controversial causes?'" Given Wal- Mart's direct financial support of right wing politicians who oppose such "controversial causes" as universal health care, raising the minimum wage, improving our environment, and ending the war in Iraq, it seems that Wal-Mart defines "highly controversial causes" with a right-wing flavor.

The following statement is attributable to Paul Blank, Campaign Director for WakeUpWalMart.com:

"Every day, Wal-Mart's actions and rhetoric serve to not only further divide America, but expose this company's extreme right wing colors. Wal-Mart should be ashamed that it would define its support for the GLBT community as 'highly controversial,' while it ignores its explicit support for right-wing George Bush-style Republicans whose policies have cost America middle class jobs, worsened our health care system, helped poison our environment, and blindly support failed strategies in Iraq.

The time has come for Wal-Mart, if they truly believe in the best of American values, to realize that every one of its workers, regardless of their sexual orientation, race, or religion, deserve to be treated fairly.

Sadly, for Wal-Mart, treating all of its 1.39 million workers with dignity and respect appears to be another 'controversial cause' they do not support."

More:
http://gay_blog.blogspot.com/2007/06/wal-mart-withdraws-support-for-equal.html

[Kikosexy2]

1. Just boycott...

those Bush-lickers anyway...I don't shop at Walmart...they make me ill...plus their items are not gay-fabulous....

[rodeodance]

2. well, the gay community-with our help will have to have some boycotts. Losing market shares will

HURT their bottom dollar!!

[Kikosexy2]

3. to us gays...

hurting someone's bottom (dollar)is kinky fun...oh my!

[Retrograde]

4. WalMart has a right

to decide how to spend its money as it wants. So do I, and I choose not to spend my money at WalMart.

[heliarc]

7. Really?

Wal-Mart has a right to use its resources in a discriminatory manner? Excluding same-sex domestic partners from medical benefits and kneeling at the feet of the hateful, bigoted Christian Right. If that's really the way it is (or should be), than we are truly in trouble. I don't spend my money at Wal-Mart, but Wal-Mart has a responsibility to treat its workers fairly.

[Divine Discontent]

5. dirty bastards...

I spend more money every day elsewhere than walmart... obviously for good reason. even though it's hurting us, I pay higher prices to avoid helping their republican policies... so many people shop there... :(

the last time I went, I returned nasty milk that was spoiled when I got it home, even though it said 7/03, and despite it being WAL MART BRAND, the lady asked me for my receipt, and I said, yeah, because you buy walmart milk elsewhere and she said --- "well they're really on us on grocery returns now, so we ask for the receipt". I said, well if they didn't sell so much crappy food we wouldn't return it! (she asked for that). I go and get a box of popcorn, come back and get in line for 10 min. in the fast lane, yes, and tell the girl she's fast thank God, and they should have others helping her, and she said, "they're yelling all the time about cutting hours!", as in, 'can you believe how bad it is and they want to cut MORE??

The mighty profit greedy stockholders. If anyone owns stock there, please sell it and buy blue stocks.


www.cafepress.com/warisprofitable <<-- check it out, top '08 stuff

[Ian David]

6. Have you ever tried to buy jewelry at Wal-Mart?

It seems to be a universal truth, that at every Wal-Mart, there are always two young women behind the counter who ignore you while they talk to their boyfriends on their cellphones.