JC Penney, A Cultural Leader?

How times change! Fifteen years ago, when advertisers heard that comedian Ellen DeGeneres planned to "come out" on her popular TV sitcom, many of them fled. JC Penney was one of them. Today, whether for economic or cultural reasons, JC Penney is not running from same sex couples but is recognizing them (at least the lesbians) in their advertising! They've even hired Ellen DeGeneres as their spokesperson!

JC Penney

In their May 2012 catalog, JC Penney features a section for clothing called "Freedom of Expression" in which a real life same sex couple, Wendi and Maggie, appear with their daughters. Both women appear to be wearing wedding rings. 


Of course, wherever someone recognizes the ability of gay or lesbian people to have normal, healthy families, someone has to protest. Here we have One Million Moms, who object to JC Penney "clearly taking sides in the culture war." I wasn't aware that having two moms and their kids model clothes for a retailer was an act of war. Who knew? One Million Moms and other anti-LGBT groups are calling for boycotts of JC Penney and the removal of this ad from the catalog.  


If you agree that ALL families deserve representation in advertising (how about a gay couple next?), then sign the petition below and support JC Penney's use of this ad. Pass it along. Thanks.

Change.org|Online Petition Form

Don't Silence Students Over Day of Silence

Carroll County Public School Board: Allow students to make announcements about the Day of Silence

My daughter requested that I post this petition on my blog(s) to support these students. They wish to make announcements at their school in Carroll County, MD about the Day of Silence on April 20. The Day of Silence is a student-led national event that brings attention to anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying and harassment in schools. Students from middle school to college take a vow of silence in an effort to encourage schools and classmates to address the problem of anti-LGBT behavior by illustrating the silencing effect of bullying and harassment on LGBT students and those perceived to be LGBT.  The problem is that the Carroll County Public School Board has instituted a new rule that says schools within the school district cannot use words such as "gay", "lesbian", or "bisexual" (or anything pertaining to the LGBTQA community) on their announcements, which could prevent students from making their announcements. 

One of these students started an online petition to allow Day of Silence announcements. If you support these students' rights to free expression, please click on the link to sign the petition. And a big "Thank You" to my daughter, Baby Mouse, for bringing this to my attention. You go girl!

http://www.change.org/petitions/carroll-county-public-school-board-allow-students-to-make-announcements-about-the-day-of-silence