Wal-Mart's 'Gay' Partnership Risks Conservative 'Rollback'
Cybercast News ^ | August 29, 2006 | Randy Hall
Posted on 08/29/2006 10:02:50 AM PDT by NYer
(CNSNews.com) - After months of criticism from union-backed groups over its employee pay and health care practices, Wal-Mart now faces a potential "rollback" of support from conservatives because of the retail giant's partnership with a homosexual business coalition.
"I don't think this is something that will sell on Main Street America, where most Wal-Mart stores are located," said Tony Perkins, president of the conservative Family Research Council (FRC). "I don't think cheap prices on goods from China will be enough to stop a rollback in their customer base if they choose to go down this aisle."
Joining the FRC in criticizing Wal-Mart's new alliance with the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) is Americans for Truth, which describes itself as "the only national organization devoted exclusively to exposing and countering the homosexual activist agenda."
"Wal-Mart has always been a favorite of God-fearing Middle American customers who hold traditional family values," said Peter LaBarbera, the group's founder and president. "I'm very surprised that Wal-Mart would now bite the hand that feeds it and thumb its nose at those very customers.
"It seems to me that Wal-Mart should reconsider its unsavory alliance with these extremist homosexual activists in today's heated and polarizing culture war," LaBarbera added.
However, Bob McAdam, vice president of corporate affairs with Wal-Mart, told Cybercast News Service that the world's largest retail company joined the NGLCC "just like we have joined a number of other groups representing all parts of the spectrum of our customers" - including women's organizations and minority groups.
The conflict began on Aug. 21, when the NGLCC issued a news release announcing "a partnership with Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., as part of the company's ongoing commitment to advancing diversity among all of its associate, supplier and customer bases."
As part of that agreement, Wal-Mart will pay $25,000 to NGLCC - "the largest LGBT [Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender] business development and economic advocacy organization in the world" - and has agreed to sponsor two of NGLCC's annual conferences.
"We are honored to have Wal-Mart's support of the NGLCC," said the group's co-founder and president, Justin Nelson. "Our partnership will not only provide more opportunities for the Chamber, but the business community as a whole."
When asked by reporters why Wal-Mart had not issued a statement on the new partnership, Nelson said that it's "normal procedure" for the NGLCC to handle such announcements.
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Walmart comes out of the closet!
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