GLAAD Behind Ellen/JCPenney To Continue to Fight AFamilyA

To quote Bugs Bunny- “This means war”. . .at least in the metaphorical sense. I prefer the Animaniacs version…”This means Warners!” GLAAD has issued a call to the LGBT Community and its allies to stand up for Ellen DeGeneres and JC Penney and make sure that they keep her as one of their new spokespeople.

As GLAAD notes in their press release

The call for support comes after a group known as “OneMillionMoms.com, a Project of the American Family Association” — an organization designated as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) — told its supporters to call J.C. Penney and demand that the company replace Ellen as its new spokesperson because she is openly gay. According to SPLC, hate groups have beliefs or practices that attack or malign an entire class of people, typically for their immutable characteristics.

GLAAD launched an online action for fans and community members to stand up for Ellen and thank J.C. Penney: www.glaad.org/standupforellen

Sites including Joe My God, Think Progress, Lez Get Real and Towleroad broke the news and are also calling on readers to voice support for J.C. Penney.

Indeed, we got the story up soon after getting the word from OMM that they were doing this.

Herndon Graddick, Senior Director of Programs and Communications at GLAAD stated “While designated hate groups try to start ‘culture wars,’ it’s clear that a vast majority of Americans today support Ellen as well as their LGBT friends and family members. Selecting an out performer who has inspired and entertained millions, is not only a smart business practice, but a reflection of how LGBT Americans today are an integral and valued part of the fabric of our culture.”

GLAAD notes that, as of 2011, 53% of Americans support marriage equality. As LGR noted earlier today, the younger nation that JC Penney is banking on to revive its fortunes is far more tolerant than those represented by OMM.

Degeneres made history when she came out of the closet both in real life, and on her television show at the time. She became one of the first lesbian characters to appear on a Prime Time network television show. Nigh on two decades later, many lesbian and gay characters have followed.

For those who want to see JC Penney’s keep Degeneres as their spokeswoman, the numbers are “972-431-8200 (customer service) and 972-431-1000 (corporate headquarters).”

 Posted by: Bridgette P. LaVictoire   lezgetreal.com