Loyalty is Everything
The Macy’s department store chain says removing two mannequins from a gay-pride display at a Boston branch earlier this month was a “mistake--unquestionably.” The display featured a list of gay-pride events and Web sites and two male mannequins, one with a rainbow flag wrapped around its waist. [...]
In it, Klein blamed “an internal breakdown in communication,” declaring the mannequins “were not removed because of pressure.” However, he defended the decision to remove the mannequins, saying the store does not “traditionally” use mannequins in “community windows” because such “tributes” don’t include the introduction of merchandise.
Klein’s letter also notes the company’s “commitment to diversity and to the GLBT community,” and concludes, “I am hopeful that Macy’s long track record of support for inclusion and diversity will be remembered by the GLBT community.” (source)
Well, one thing that Macy’s should learn about our community is that loyalty is very important and, we have a very long memory. If you don’t believe that, just ask Coors.
I suppose that Macy’s can say that is was “an internal breakdown in communication,” but you know what? I can have “an internal breakdown in communication” also when my brain tells me, “Bill, let’s go shop at Macy’s,” and decide not to set foot in Macy’s again until they show their true colors. An apology, after it’s safe to make such an apology (Boston Pride is over), just isn’t good enough.
That is the message I would like to see Macy’s receive. And the one thing that will give them the message loud and clear is when we take our $$$ somewhere else, because that is the language that Macy’s understands.
Damn, there’s still a big of activism left in me. Now, if I lived in Boston, I’d organize a picket right out in front of their store. Macy’s, as a company, has the right to not support Boston Pride. I just wish they had the balls to own up to their decision.
Now, I’m going back to enjoying my ruby-red grapefruit margarita. It’s delicious!
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Oh my God, it's so funny that you would mention Filene's...
I went to get my haircut yesterday at the mall - nothing special - color to a darker brown color but then adding a lot of highlights for a "glamour" look, followed by a facial, massage, and eyebrow waxing (I was depressed - Kent is out of town - I have zero friends - I'm lonely - don't fit into the "gay scene", yada yada yada). Oh yeah, and then the hair cut. I look FABulous. For all of those out there that say, "Oh my God, he so queer", GET OVER IT!! It's called "gay license". If you can call my queer and faggot, I'm sure as hell going to earn it and do whatever the fuck I want to do at the salon. This is probably why, when I recently met up with a friend that I hadn't seen in 20 years, he said, "You look 20 years younger than when I saw you 12 years ago!" Gotta love waxing and the stuff they give you to get right of those aging wrinkles (yes it really does work)!! And I won't even get into what I can do with makeup (more guys are using makeup now)...
While I was having all this done, my "service person" (sounds better that way), said, "If I were looking for a man, I'd pick a white boy this time." (she's Jamaican). I said, "I don't know Karen, most straight white boys are assholes too." She said, "Yeah, but at least they don't come with all the baggage that black men come with. They expect you to get them everything, like I'm his damn servant. I put in long work days, then I pick up our kids, go home and feed them. He comes home, sits down on the sofa and yells to me to bring him a beer as he watches TV."
I told her, "Want me to take your place for a day? When he asks me for his beer, I'll say, 'Get off your lazy ass and get it yourself. I'm BUZZZY!' But you also have to realize, that generally and statistically speaking, black men are larger 'down there'." She said, "Hell, I don't want that. I want RESPECT." I said, "Honey, you have as much respect as you want to make other's realize. USE IT! And always remember, size isn't always a bad thing." She laughed.
But I digress.... Macy's.... I left the salon and went to the big mall to shop around for things that I can't live with out but don't yet know I can't live with out. I had to pick up a battery for my camera at Ritz Camera, then went off to grab that triple-shot of cappuccino at Barnes and Noble, where I bought the book "Why Marriage Matters. America, Equality, and Gay People's Right to Marry", by Evan Wolfson. It looked interesting. I also bought Underworld - Evolution. I like to see how the underground village people run their lives. And since it is, in a way, about "evolution" (right in the title), I thought that Kent might be interested.
I then went to Filene's to get a new cologne. My Armani has grown old with me, and I wanted something alive and more fresh - yet sophisticated. Why is that the fragrance I like has to cost so damn much?
I got home, got all the stuff out, and on the back of the Filene's card, it said "MACY'S"! I had forgotten in my little pea brain that Macy's owns Filenes. I was so pissed that I helped to support the Nazi's. So now I have to find a different place to shop. :(
Here's the rub for me. Not only did they remove the mannequins, but they also removed the URLs for Boston Pride AND the AIDS Action Committee. So, Klein can say whatever he wishes, but the truth is that while they may say they are committed to diversity, it only goes so far.
I've already cut up my Macy's card and mailed it to the president of the company. I included my Filene's card in that mailing being that Macy's bought out Filene's.
I'll buy my ruby red slippers somewhere else from now on.
Well, if it was a mistake did they put the window back like it was? I mean, by the time they made this statement there were still a couple of weeks left in June.
Well I don't live near Boston, but there's a Macy's in the mall a mile from my home in Pittsburgh. They will NEVER see any of my rainbow-colored money! ~ann
Drink some ruby-red grapefruit margarita for me. I'm stuck at work for at least another 2 hours with nothing but decaf coffee.