Contact: Chris Kofinis (202) 486-6422
WAKEUPWALMART.COM CALLS ON WAL-MART TO PUBLICLY CONDEMN CHRISTIAN CONSERVATIVE ATTACKS
GROUP SENDS CEO LEE SCOTT LETTER IMPLORING WAL-MART TO REMAIN STEADFAST IN SUPPORT OF EQUAL RIGHTS FOR LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDER (LGBT) COMMUNITY
WAKEUPWALMART.COM APPLAUDS COMPANY’S SUPPORT FOR EQUAL RIGHTS, BUT RENEWS CALL ON WAL-MART TO “EMBRACE REAL FAMILY VALUES BY VALUING WORKERS AND FAMILIES”
Washington, DC - In light of heated public attacks by Christian conservative groups and calls for “Black Friday” boycotts, WakeUpWalMart.com, America’s campaign to change Wal-Mart, is calling on Wal-Mart to remain steadfast in its support for equal rights for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) community, and to publicly condemn such hateful attacks.
In a letter sent to Wal-Mart CEO Lee Scott today, WakeUpWalMart.com applauded Wal-Mart’s support for equal rights for the LGBT community but raised serious concern over whether Wal-Mart will buckle under the intense pressure brought to bear by these Christian conservative groups.
Within the past few weeks, both the American Family Association (AFA) and Operation Rescue / Operation Save America, have called for a nation-wide boycott of Wal-Mart this “Black Friday” to pressure Wal-Mart to end its support for the LGBT community. The AFA, for example, claims to have “sent emails to 3 million supporters urging a boycott” of Wal-Mart, and Operation Rescue is organizing protests at Wal-Mart stores all across the nation this Friday.
“Truth be told, while we differ with Wal-Mart over its terrible treatment of its employees and their families, we do applaud Wal-Mart’s position to support equal rights and its support for the LGBT community. We can now only hope that Wal-Mart will not equivocate, will publicly condemn these hateful attacks, and will remain steadfast in its public support for the LGBT community,” said Paul Blank, campaign director for WakeUpWalMart.com.
The letter from WakeUpWalMart.com makes it clear that “while we absolutely agree with Wal-Mart’s support for the LGBT community, and we couldn’t disagree more with the positions held by the AFA and Operation Rescue, we are deeply concerned by recent statements from your company which raise serious questions about how Wal-Mart will respond to the pressure brought to bear by these religious organizations.”
The group’s letter to Scott was prompted by the comments of one of Wal-Mart’s spokespeople, Linda Blakley, when she acknowledged that Wal-Mart’s recent decision to use “Merry Christmas” instead of “Happy Holidays” was a direct result of public pressure brought by Christian conservatives who boycotted the retailer last year. In reference to the boycott, Ms. Blakley is quoted as saying that Wal-Mart “learned a lesson from that.”
WakeUpWalMart.com, in its letter, called on Wal-Mart to clarify what “lesson” Wal-Mart learned. The letter further outlined the concern that “Wal-Mart, fearing the backlash of Christian conservatives, will reverse its position supporting equal rights for all Americans, regardless of their sexual orientation.”
As a show of support for Wal-Mart’s position, WakeUpWalMart.com will be sending a copy of the letter to the leaders of the both the AFA and Operation Rescue. In addition, WakeUpWalMart.com will also “launch a new public effort applauding Wal-Mart for its support of equal rights but stressing our sincere ‘Hope for the Holidays’ that Wal-Mart will begin valuing families by paying a living wage, eliminating salary caps, ending open availability and providing quality, affordable health care to all of its 1.39 million employees,” as stated in the letter.
“Supporting equal rights for the LGBT community is not anti-family; what makes Wal-Mart anti-family is leaving children and workers without health care, paying workers poverty level wages, and penalizing workers who need to take time off to care for a sick child - that’s anti-family,” added Blank.
A copy of the letter:
Mr. Lee Scott, CEO
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
Bentonville, AR 72716
Dear Mr. Scott,
It has come to our attention that Wal-Mart is under attack from Christian conservatives who oppose your company’s decision to support the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, & Transgender (LGBT) community.
As I am sure you are aware, Christian conservative groups, such as the American Family Association (AFA) and Operation Rescue / Operation Save America, are now even calling for a nation-wide boycott of Wal-Mart this “Black Friday” to pressure Wal-Mart to end its support for the LGBT community. The AFA, for example, claims to have “sent emails to 3 million supporters urging a boycott” of Wal-Mart, and Operation Rescue is organizing protests at Wal-Mart stores all across the nation this Friday.
Suffice it to say, while we absolutely agree with Wal-Mart’s support for the LGBT community, and we couldn’t disagree more with the positions held by the AFA and Operation Rescue, we are deeply concerned by recent statements from your company which raise serious questions about how Wal-Mart will respond to the pressure brought to bear by these religious organizations.
For example, one of Wal-Mart’s spokespeople, Linda Blakley, has already acknowledged that Wal-Mart’s recent decision to use “Merry Christmas” instead of “Happy Holidays” was a direct result of pressure brought by Christian conservatives last year. As Ms. Blakley said, “we learned a lesson from that. Merry Christmas is now part of the vocabulary here at Wal-Mart.”
Mr. Scott, I believe America has a right to know exactly what “lesson” Wal-Mart learned. The truth is, we are deeply concerned that Wal-Mart, fearing the backlash of Christian conservatives, will reverse its position supporting equal rights for all Americans, regardless of their sexual orientation.
Wal-Mart has an obligation, especially during this Holiday season, to make it clear to all Americans that Wal-Mart will ignore these radical calls from the Christian right, will embrace equal rights for all, and will publicly commit its support for America’s LGBT community.
Truth be told, while we differ with you over Wal-Mart’s terrible treatment of its employees and their families, such as poverty wages, unaffordable health care, salary caps, anti-family scheduling and an attendance policy that punishes workers who have to take care of a sick child, we do applaud Wal-Mart’s position to support the LGBT community, whether they work at Wal-Mart or not.
Supporting equal rights for all Americans is the right thing to do, and we will communicate our position to both the leaders of the AFA and Operation Rescue.
Ironically, while we vehemently disagree with the Christian conservatives’ opposition for equal rights, we do believe that Wal-Mart has become anti-worker and anti-family. In fact, Wal-Mart’s recent wage and benefit changes are the most anti-family, anti-worker changes in the company’s history and do not reflect the family values embraced by most Americans.
Mr. Scott, a company that wants to embrace real family values starts by valuing workers and families.
That’s why, this Holiday Season, we will launch a new public effort applauding Wal-Mart for its support of equal rights but stressing our sincere “Hope for the Holidays” that Wal-Mart will begin valuing families by paying a living wage, eliminating salary caps, ending open availability and providing quality, affordable health care to all of its 1.39 million employees.
In the end, we not only look forward to Wal-Mart remaining steadfast in its support for equal rights, but to the coming day when Wal-Mart will do what is truly right - become a better employer.
Sincerely,
Paul Blank
Campaign Director
CC:
American Family Association
Operation Rescue / Operation Save America
