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Stonewall Democratic Club Comes Out Against Walmart
By
John Del Signore
Published Jan 31, 2011
Modified Jan 31, 2011
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By
John Del Signore
Published Jan 31, 2011
Modified Jan 31, 2011
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The latest group to join the preemptive opposition for a rumored Walmart location in Brooklyn is the Stonewall Democratic Club, the "oldest and largest citywide Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgendered (LGBT) Democratic organization." The group has thrown its support behind the Wal-Mart Free NYC organization, which is committed to stopping the retail giant from getting a foothold in the city. SDNYC released a statement today explaining why it thinks Walmart is bad for homosexuals:
Wal-Mart represents a culture of intolerance and insensitivity towards LGBT employees and issues that is unwelcome in New York. Just last year more than 100 Wal-Mart stores were found to be promoting a children’s book that suggested that gay people can overcome “sin” and convert to heterosexuality with the help of counseling. Wal-Mart CEO Mike Duke signed a petition in his home state of Arkansas that was aimed at preventing adoption by Gay and Lesbian parents.
In 2010 the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index, which evaluates corporations on LGBT issues, gave Wal-Mart 40%. That failing grade is in marked contrast to other retailers like Macy*s, Costco both which received 100% in 2010. Wal-Mart’s values are not our values, and they are certainly not New York’s.
But Walmart spokesman Steven Restivo insists his company and its "associates" are totally comfortable with gays. "Diversity and inclusion are enduring values that are fundamental to our culture, which includes a focus on having respect for our colleagues and customers," Restivo tells the Daily Politics. "As part of our internal commitment to inclusion, we have Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender Associate Resource Groups aimed at building a sense of community among associates sharing similar backgrounds and interests."
For some reason, Restivo didn't remind everyone that Walmart warmed up to gays as far back as 2005, during a seminar at company headquarters called, "Why Market to Gay America?" According to an internal memo, Walmart executives sought "insight into the purchasing decisions of GLBT customers" and recognized that America's homosexual community has $610 billion in purchasing power. Gotta respect that!
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John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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