What's he on about now?

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   Thursday, June 08, 2006

   STUCK IN THE MIDDLE WITH YOU

Never underestimate the power of symbolism. The Macy's store in Boston decided to do a window display for Pride as so many stores who value us loyal homo shoppers tend to do these days and Andy Towle documents what happened next.

After caving in to the infamous Brian Camenker and his loud band of bigots, the Macy's/Bloomingdale people are now bracing for impact as they lose an entire customer base, one that spends a lot more money than your average fundamentalist. Me, I don't know a Bloomies from a Niemens but I thought I'd show my support by e-mailing this to the Macy's executives:

Dear Macy's,

It's obviously difficult to cater to everyone. All of your customers have different interests, outlooks and lifestyles. Sometimes you have to make choices to please one group over another -- even if just for a couple of weeks like, say, during Gay Pride festivities.

In that context, catering to one hatemonger and his small band of angry activists seems like an odd choice, especially in such a progressive, civilized city like Boston. It wasn't a bold decision to place 'gay' mannequins in your windows but it was a thoughtful and kind one -- only now revoked.

You say you "regret offending" those who seek to eliminate gay people from our society. Visual representations like mannequins are just the beginning, or have you never heard of the hundreds of teenagers sent off to 'reparative therapy' camps or given electroshock treatments in hospitals?

People like the MassResistance group draw lines in the sand -- arbitrary, unnecessary divisions between people in a time when we need to work together more than ever. They force a conflict and you've chosen their side. Please consider that as you whine about the angry letters, ill will, poor public relations and sliding sales figures that your unfortunate choice will bring you.

Hey, that felt good! Care to join in? Here's the e-mail addresses:

terry.lundgren@federated-fds.com, thomas.cody@federated-fds.com, thomas.cole@federated-fds.com, janet.grove@federated-fds.com, susan.kronick@federated-fds.com, ronald.tysoe@federated-fds.com, karen.hoguet@federated-fds.com, kimberly.reason@macys.com, ellen.fruchtman@macys.com, elina.kazan@macys.com, ronnie.taffet@macys.com, lisa.kauffman@macys.com