One Million Moms Now Protesting JC Penney Catalogue's Lesbian Couple
One Million Moms, the group that protested JC Penney's hiring of Ellen DeGeneres, have a fresh bee in their anti-gay bonnet. And, yes, it again concerns JC Penney's LGBT-inclusion.
JC Penney has infuriated the group after including a lesbian couple in their latest catalogue. "You'll often find Wendi, her partner, Maggie, and daughters elbow deep in paint, clay or mosaics," the store's "freedom of expression" advert reads, leading One Million Moms to revive their boycott.
OMM has so many issues to cover we had no choice but to move on earlier in the year but have decided to revisit this issue and speak out again. It is obvious that JCP would rather take sides than remain neutral. JCP will hear from the other side so they need to hear from us as well.
The group then offers the obligatory "take action" call, imploring supporters to confront store manager's about the lesbian couple. They ask: "What was the purpose in stating on page eleven that Wendi and Maggie are partners?" The answer is of course simple: because lesbians exist, have children and need to buy clothes, just like straight people.
I'm not ashamed to admit that for years I have shopped at JCP and especially love it when they have a sale. They are most often my "go to" retailer. Sometimes items are marked down as much as 70% or more! In these budgeted times I need that. I don't find their quality inferior and cannot recall anything needing to be returned for any such reason. A suggestion to any consumer; you could always communicate with your retailer and let them know what you prefer, that's usually the clerk asking, "Did you find everything ok?"
Posted by: mike | May 3, 2012 2:01:04 PM
@JOHN - no, you won't find $500 cashmere scarves at JCP, but there is plenty of good stuff, particularly if one couldn't care less about high end designer labels. Certainly, serviceable linens and housewares can be found even if the clothes are not good enough for you.
And anyway, in this case, it's like buying the cup of lemonade from the little kid's roadside stand. You don't buy it because you're thirsty, or it's any good. You buy it to help out the little kid.
Posted by: TJ | May 3, 2012 2:20:01 PM
There really is no basis for objections to an ad like this anymore. Isn't gay marriage legal in 8 states now? And there are thousands of same-sex couples in civil unions raising children. They are a part of America and it's only natural that their families will start to be reflected in ads/commercials, etc....
I think this ad is very lovely and tastefully done. I always shop at JC Penney and this ad won't cause me to go elsewhere.
Posted by: mary | May 3, 2012 2:20:02 PM
I want an official count: just how big IS the million moms?
Meanwhile, JCP how has a store in Manhattan which I will be visiting this weekend.
Posted by: Danny in the East Village3 | May 3, 2012 2:28:59 PM
My husband and I clothe our three little boys in large part from JCP, because they have good-looking, quality merchandise at a fair price--and they aren't WalMart or Target. The last time we were in the store, I made it a point to talk with a management person about the issue of buying clothes for a family, and how much I appreciate being part of their definition of that, and that having Ellen as a spokesmodel was a great thing, and their new pricing strategy is a winner. The guy fairly BEAMED with pride, and was so pleased that I had talked with him. Anyone who goes to a JCP needs to let them know.
Posted by: Jeff Kurtti | May 3, 2012 2:46:41 PM
As soon as they admit they're really "the couple thousand moms" I'll start paying attention to what they have to say.
But I guess Forty-Thousand Repressive Holier-Than-Thou Cnuts" isn't a catchy enough title. I'm not religious, but doesn't the New Testament tell women to STFU? I'm pretty sure it does.
Posted by: Caliban | May 3, 2012 3:51:29 PM
It IS a conspiracy. OMM wants gay men to start wearing moderately priced clothing!
Posted by: Jack | May 3, 2012 4:18:50 PM
but doesn't the New Testament tell women to STFU?
Actually, Caliban, it really isn't clear about the role women play. It certainly doesn't say that women should have no role in civil society or politics. Paul clearly says that a woman should cover her head and be silent in church, not having authority over a man. Yet the New Testament refers to women it calls "deaconesses" which would seem to imply some authority over other church members, presumably male.
Posted by: mary | May 3, 2012 4:46:05 PM
I appreciate JC Penny's new found love affair with lesbians. It would be nice if they showed some love to the gay boys too.
Posted by: TampaZeke | May 3, 2012 5:22:15 PM
Obviously their boycott of JCP over the Ellen business was such a great success they have decided to repeat it. I bet JCP must be trembling at the prospect of their next boycott announcement, probably scheduled for August/Sept.Those 'million' moms must be so confused at to when one boycott ends and another officially starts again.
Posted by: Den | May 3, 2012 5:28:36 PM
One million moms ! LOL LOL LOL
Posted by: jack | May 4, 2012 2:57:25 AM
One million moms minus about 900,950. You go moms , you have almost as many members as the Catholic League. You are on the wrong side of history in this debate.What will you tell your grandchildren years from now about where you stood on this equality issue?
Posted by: jack | May 4, 2012 6:05:44 AM
I saw this ad but because I no longer purchase a mother's day gift I didn't much pay attention. However, when I did see it I actually thought it was a little girl with her mother and grandmother (grandmothers are getting younger and younger). So I guess "million mothers" (or whatever) are spending their time trying to find problems where they don't exist. If I missed the point (and a lesbian couple wouldn't have bothered me in the least) as a gay man I'm sure that millions of straight people thought exactly the same thing that I did and didn't see the "gay" aspect at all. Million moms are a total failure and have never mounted a boycott that has been successful - they aren't going away but we really need to start ignoring them.
Posted by: ThomT | May 4, 2012 11:30:45 AM
@Zeke -- Let's see what the ads look like for Father's Day next month. Or maybe since June is a traditional wedding month, we'll see some same-sex couples all dressed up!
Got to head over to JCP later today in fact -- got some T-shirts for my mom-in-law but got the wrong size. For good looking basic clothes it's been our go-to place for several years; she loves their Alfred Dunner pull-on jeans (she can't do zipper fly pants because of her disability).
Posted by: justme2 | May 4, 2012 2:38:14 PM
All 25 members of that hateful, discriminatory group can go straight to hell. I'm not a misogynist by any means, but I agree with the guy above that said those women need a good f*ck to loosen them up.
Well, he didn't quite word it like that, lol. The group is *waaaay* too uptight to be healthy, though.
Posted by: Chris | May 10, 2012 6:20:01 PM