Last week I wrote about the changes underway at jcpenney. Among the many changes occurring at jcpenney is the presence of everyone’s favorite daytime chat show host, Ellen, as the struggling retailers new spokesperson. Which I personally think is a brilliant move. But it appears that there are some who have an issue with jcpenney hiring the openly gay comedian / host. A group calling themselves One Million Moms, a division of the American Family Association, is calling on jcpenney to replace Ellen as its new spokesperson. According to the One Million Moms website:
OMM began contacting JC Penney after the store announced that comedian Ellen Degeneres would become the company’s new spokesperson. Funny that JC Penney thinks that hiring an open homosexual spokesperson will help their business when most of its customers are traditional families.
jcpenney has stood by Ellen and affirmed its partnership with her. While this partnership has generated a lot of controversy, I hope what results is more people giving jcpenney a try again precisely because they stood by Ellen. I for one, will certainly be popping into the store to not only check out the changes, but to plop down some cash at a retailer / business who has done the right thing and not given into bigoted bullying. Watch Ellen’s response to the controversy and hear exactly what she stands for (far) below.
Which brings me to my second point. This week the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals struck down the controversial California Proposition 8 as unconstitutional. This is the second time that a court has made this decision. We’ve heard a lot over the last few years from politicians, public figures, and celebs coming out against Prop 8. But what hasn’t gotten a lot of press are those business who have also done the right thing and shown their support for equality and come out against Prop 8 and / or for marriage equality. I’ve listed those that I could find on a few Google searches here:
Starbucks, Nike, Microsoft, Google, Kimpton Hotels, New Balance, Ogilvy, Time Warner Cable, Xerox, Aetna, Chubb, Diageo, Levi Strauss, Zipcar, CBS, Apple, PG&E, AT&T, Live Nation, Goldman Sachs, and Amazon.com
Google and Levi’s even went so far as to jointly file an Amicus Brief (Amicus curiae) along with the SF Chamber of Commerce stating their opposition to Proposition 8! How many businesses that you know, love and respect have done that?
Let’s be honest, the list is not nearly large enough given the gravity and magnitude of the issue. Wouldn’t it be amazing for the brands and retailers that we love to come out in support of the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals decision, to publicly voice their support for the LGBTQ community, and to affirmatively state their support for equality?
For more on Proposition 8 visit our sister site, QClick.
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