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(New York City) Opposition is growing among
conservative Christian groups to Wal-Mart's decision to strengthen its ties to
the LGBT community.
Operation Rescue/Operation Save America, which
has long been involved in fighting gay communities throughout the South
announced Friday that it is mounting a boycott against the giant retailer.
Wal-Mart earlier this year expanded its LGBT
diversity program in a deal with the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of
Commerce. (story)
Earlier this week the Missouri Baptist Convention
warned Wal-Mart to drop its ties with the LGBT business group or face a boycott.
Operation Save America director
Rev. Flip Benham said his group's boycott would begin the day
after Thanksgiving - traditionally the biggest day of the year
for retailers.
In 2003 Benham and his
organization disrupted gay pride celebrations in Charlotte,
North Carolina.
Yelling through a bullhorn,
Benham berated the crowd. "A woman can't marry a
woman! I don't care what these people tell you!" shouted
Benham.
The Missouri Baptist Convention
warning to Wal-Mart was approved this week at the the group's
annual convention after a heated debate in which many
delegates demanded an immediate boycott.
There are 600,000 Southern
Baptists in Missouri. Leaders of the national Southern Baptist
Convention said the Missouri Baptists were the first to
threaten Wal-Mart.
Last week a small Tennessee
church became the first to officially boycott the retailer. (story)
Trinity Family Church's 150 members voted to take their
business elsewhere.
Last month the American Family
Association told its members to avoid shopping at Wal-Mart but
stopped short of calling for a full boycott. (story)
In an email alert to its
members this week the AFA says that the company is retailing
hundreds of products with "pro-homosexual leanings".
The AFA email called "on
Christian consumers to spend their dollars elsewhere as a sign
of their displeasure with Wal-Mart's pro-homosexual
leanings."
A Wal-Mart spokesman says the
retailer is "reaching out to a number of groups" and
will "welcome and serve all customers with respect and
without discrimination."
The AFA already is involved in
a boycott of Ford Motor Company over the automaker's support
for LGBT causes. (story)
The AFA said it has collected 500,000 Internet pledges to
boycott Ford vehicles.
©365Gay.com 2006
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