The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation is throwing its support behind JC Penney and it’s choice to partner with Ellen DeGeneres, especially in light of the antigay group One Million Moms’ campaign to urge the retail giant to fire DeGeneres based solely on the fact that she’s a lesbian, according to a press release from GLAAD.
In response to One Million Moms call to action, GLAAD is asking that the public “Stand Up for Ellen,” generating a list of people who support JC Penney’s decision to partner with the comedian, and asking the people call the retailer to voice their support.
JC Penney President Michael Francis voiced his enthusiasm for the partnership in a press release:
"Importantly, we share the same fundamental values as Ellen. At JC Penney, we couldn’t think of a better partner to help us put the fun back into the retail experience. Moving forward, we’ll be focused on being in sync with the rhythm of our customers’ lives and operating in a ‘Fair and Square’ manner that is rooted in integrity, simplicity and respect. We’re thrilled that she’s joining our team to help convey the exciting transformation under way.”
One Million Moms, in a blog, responded to Francis with a call for a boycott stating, "By jumping on the pro-gay bandwagon, JC Penney is attempting to gain a new target market and in the process will lose customers with traditional values that have been faithful to them over all these years."
Ironically, back in 1997 JC Penney wanted nothing to do with DeGeneres, who came out as a lesbian in her personal life and on her sitcom. DeGeneres famously came out on the cover of Time while her alter ego Ellen Morgan came out in an episode entitled “The Puppy Episode.” JC Penney and Chrysler pulled sponsorship of The Ellen Show over pressure from Rev. Donald E. Wildmon and the American Family Association, which threatened to spearhead boycotting the show’s advertisers, according to an article in South Carolina’s Herald-Journal.
GLAAD reports that since the organization first put out the call "Stand Up for Ellen," more than 10,000 people have signed the GLAAD petition and a poll in the LA Times reveals that 96 percent of people who responded support DeGeneres and JC Penney.
Stand Up for Ellen here.
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