7 replies to this topic

[T.R.]

One Million Moms Want JC Penney to Fire Ellen DeGeneres Because She's "Openly Gay"
Source: Minyanville.com

Remember last December, when Lowe’s (LOW) made headline news for its decision to pull advertising from the TLC (DISCA) reality TV show All-American Muslim? Well, one month into 2012, we’ve got ourselves the first big box retailer controversy of the year, only this time, it’s JC Penney (JCP), not Lowe’s, and homosexuality, not religion, that are the focus of ire.

You see, JC Penney recently signed on openly-gay TV personality Ellen DeGeneres as a spokesperson, and One Million Moms, a project of the American Family Association, or AFA, is not happy about it, MSN reports.

"Funny that JC Penney thinks hiring an open homosexual spokesperson will help their business when most of their customers are traditional families," the group writes on their website. "DeGeneres is not a true representation of the type of families that shop at their store. The majority of JC Penney shoppers will be offended and choose to no longer shop there."

One Million Moms, whose membership figures are undetermined, is calling on supporters to contact the retailer and pressure it to drop DeGeneres pronto so as to “remain neutral in the culture war."

The conservative group calls itself "the most powerful tool you have to stand against the immorality, violence, vulgarity and profanity the entertainment media is throwing at your children."

Fans of DeGeneres were quick to fire back though. The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Discrimination (or GLAAD) set up a "Stand Up for Ellen" website and in less than a day, over than 10,000 people signed an online petition pledging their support for DeGeneres and JC Penney’s choice. According to a Reuters report, some 96% of Los Angeles Times readers also said they supported the comedian in an unscientific poll.

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[Blue]

And one poster thinks one million moms have a collective burr up their arses. And it's our good friends at the American Family Association. These people are "professional offendees". They are also notorious for throwing up high numbers. A million moms my butt. They must be gettign geared up for the Super Bowl Halftime Show.

I'm no fan of Ellen. However, I do think she represents the lifestyle well. When she first came out, she was pushy with the lesbian thing. Her career suffered because they went overboard with the lesbian thing. Now, I think she's more comfortable with it and more realistic about it. Like most of us, she just wants to fit in and be accepted.

I understand peoples' wariness with the same sex thing. Even me, I don't get male gay lifestyles. My mom still views my choice as a phase I am goign through. My grandmother just refuses to accept it. The odd thing is that they absolutely adore Maggie, they just wish her name was a dude. But groups like this want to take society back to the Dark Ages. I hate to tell them but lesbianism is on the rise. But it makes sense if you think about it.

As an aside, JC Penny is standing by her. Good for them.

[jakemac]

I never liked Ellen Degeneres, her comedy isn't my cup of tea. Who she prefers to sleep with, why should it matter.

As for the AFA, dem b!t*hes jus be crazy !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Blue]

The AFA are ultra-conservative zealots. There are no million moms. It's just a name of their movement projects. They have a million fathers line too. What they do have millions of is dollars...an estimated $14million a year budget. That's almost what Jon Stewart makes a year. Given their beliefs women aren't suppose to have opinions. These people really want to take American society back to a state of puritanism. They are considered a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center.

[Greydaze]

They are professional crybabies who should MTOB...They're always offended by something.Fcking prudes....

[T.R.]

Hmmm, first of all, I really like Ellen, LOL.

This group and most like it just rub me entirely the wrong way. Ellen? They have a freekin' problem with Ellen? I've always been impressed with the way her show is enjoyed by that older demographic in spite of her lifestyle. That's why she is an excellent role model. She's just an extremely likeable person who happens to be gay. Doesn't rub your nose in it nor does she shy away from it. Both my mother-in-law, who is accepting of the lifestyle due to some family members being gay (as well as her son who is a 55 y.o. "confirmed bachelor" we're not sure about ) and my mom who is a Fox watching, O'Reilly loving born-again who thinks it is strictly a chosen sexual preference (although her words might be more like perversion ) enjoy her show. I don't get to watch it, but if it's on when I'm at my MIL's, I do get a kick out of it.

Anyways, I've never in my life felt like any gay person wanted to "recruit" me. I've worked for gay bosses and had a gay guy work for me. I really feel much more comfortable when they are "out". It's just a much more honest way of dealing with a rather important aspect of someones life. Whether they were out or not, I knew, as did just about everyone else. No surprise when Ellen came out either.

On a side note, I linked to a story about a blog called Born This Way on another site I used to have and got a big kick browsing through some of the pictures. I think we all grew up with kids that were "born that way" and grew into gay adults, surprising no one. I mean,this kid was just toooo fab- u - liiiis to not grow up gay.

[Greydaze]

My cousin is a Lesbian,and I could care less..To me it's no big deal.Life is to short to worry about other people's lives.

[Blue]

It just irks me the extent that these people will go to abuse religion as an excuse for hate. I don't expect everyone to agree with same sex relationships. I'm a live and let live sort anyway. I have no problem answering questions about it. I'm sure that people have questions or are simply curious.

People like the AFA have no interest in debate or accommodation. It's their vision of their religious views or nothing else. They are basically a Christian version of the Taliban...and that's not an exaggeration.