Claim: Wal-Mart has partnered with the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce.
Status: Was true in 2006, but is no longer the case.
Example: [Collected via e-mail, 2006]
Wal-Mart asks for, and receives, permission to join homosexual marriage group Read "Wal-Mart Partners With Gay and Lesbian Group" Wal-Mart, the largest retailer in the world, has asked for and received permission to join the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. The NGLCC is a leading promoter of homosexual marriage. Although Wal-Mart has never excluded homosexuals from being employees, customers, or suppliers, the company wanted to be more closely identified with promoting the homosexual agenda. Wal-Mart agreed to give $25,000 to the NGLCC and to pay for two conferences scheduled by NGLCC. Also, NGLCC called Wal-Mart's action "part of the company's ongoing commitment to advancing diversity (homosexuality) among all of its associate, supplier and customer bases." Wal-Mart is offering the same kind of support for homosexual marriage which Ford Motor Company has been giving to homosexual groups for years. TAKE ACTION 1. Send your email to Wal-Mart. 2. Wal-Mart often blocks our emails. To make sure your voice is heard, please call 3. Print out and distribute our specially produced Pass Along Sheet. Send Your Letter Now! |
Origins: In August 2006, mega-retailer Wal-Mart announced a partnership with National
into a partnership with the NGLCC, the company was "making a very sincere effort to reach out to people who are a significant part of our customer base," said
However, this move on the part of Wal-Mart to increase its appeal to one segment of the buying public came at the cost of offending another. Conservative groups were displeased with the retail giant's alliance with homosexual groups and were vocal in their opposition to it. The
On the other side of the aisle, not all members of the gay community were ready to embrace
Most of the claims made in the AFA's "action alert" stand up to scrutiny. The retailer did commit to giving $25,000 annually to the NGLCC, and it agreed to sponsor two of that organization's conferences. As to the NGLCC being "a leading promoter of homosexual marriage," a number of its
The decision by Wal-Mart (along with dozens of other retailers) to donate
Sign the pledge not to shop at Wal-Mart or Sam's Club on the Friday and Saturday following Thanksgiving Help recruit 1,000,000 families who will agree not to shop at Here's why: In a show of support to help homosexuals legalize same-sex marriage, Every purchase made online for books, music, videos, clothing and accessories, children's clothing and toys, and electronics at the site will automatically send 5% of the sales to the homosexual group. The Wal-Mart also gave a generous cash donation to the Northwest Arkansas Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Community Center, helping to provide a place where homosexuals can come together to "socialize." Many observers feel it would have been a wise business decision for
Wal-Mart Contributes 5% Of Online Sales To Homosexual Group
agreement is an indication that
Less than careful readers might miss that the 5% donation applied only to sales made through the Metro DC GLBT (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgendered) web site — that is, purchases made at
On 21 November 2006, Wal-Mart issued a statement affirming that the company "will not make corporate contributions to support or oppose highly controversial issues unless they directly relate to our ability to serve our customers," but the import of that statement regarding Wal-Mart's relationship with the NGLCC is not yet clear.
In June 2007, Wal-Mart announced its decision to to curb its support of GLBT organizations after conservative Christian groups threatened a boycott, and after some of its own employees expressed disapproval.
"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.
Barbara "Wal-Mart: not the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow" Mikkelson
Last updated: 5 December 2007
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