Wal-Mart does it again...

[sleigh]

In 2006, Wal-Mart was somewhat relatively gay-friendly, partnering with with National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce to "reach out to people who are a significant part of our customer base" (quote from then-Wal-Mart Spokesman Bob McAdam) Yet at the same time, it wouldn't offer benefits to their employees who were in same-sex relationships. By November of 2006, after conservative groups threatened to boycott Wal-Mart on post-Thanksgiving sales, they backed away from the alliance with NGLCC. In 2007, after conservative christian groups threatened yet another boycott, Wal-Mart stopped giving any donations to gay rights groups.

Here's the latest travesty A Chicago-area gay male couple was shopping in a Niles, Michigan Wal-Mart with their adopted children, two special-needs twins. The men were stopped by store employees and accused of shoplifting some lighters. Although they produced a receipt for the lighters, the couple claims they were verbally threatened and abused by store employees, and told they had to go to a "detention room" for more questioning. (Wal-Mart claims the two men became "uncooperative.") The couple refused to go to the detention room and asked that the police be called. The police arrived, but they didn't much help: they handcuffed one of the two men, put both of them in the back of separate police cruisers, and allowed Wal-Mart employees to take the children to the detention room. When it became apparent that the men had not shoplifted the lighters, they were released... but no one from the store apologized. In fact, they were told that they were permanently banned from Wal-Mart.

I don't know that I've ever bought anything from a Wal-Mart. I think I'll keep up that habit...

Comments

[netmouse.livejournal.com]

I have been maintaining a boycot against Walmart for about a decade now, and I find I am rather happiest that way, especially when stories like this come out.

That said, I see some indication in the news coverage that the men checked out separately and when the issue of shoplifting was first raised, the store staff may not have even been aware that they were gay. Banning them from all their stores is clearly an over-reaction, but as many have said, why would any self-respecting gay person want to shop there, so, no great loss.

An apology clearly sounds called for, however.

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

We never shop at WalMart, for oh, so many reasons, including how they treat their employees, how they treat their suppliers, how they treat the towns where they build their buildings, and their uncivilized influence on society. This is just another reason, but if it is sufficient for you, then it is.

I understand that there are reasons to shop there, even valid reasons. But none of them apply to us.

K.

[barbarienne.livejournal.com]

Every now and again I get curious about Wal-Mart, in much the same way that I am curious about, frex, a strip club. That is, I wonder what sort of people go there, and just why they find that appealing.

I have never been happier to not be a Wal-Mart shopper.

[galacticvoyeur.livejournal.com]

I have never set foot in a WalMart and don't expect I ever will. But, hey, that's just me. I also haven't drunk a soft drink since 1983. (And I remember that orange Nee Hi well... it was hot out on that golf course.)