I'm guessing that Macy's probably believed them when they heard complaints that the mannequins offended some people so they pulled them. They should have know that this was just an excuse. It didn't matter what was in those windows, the very small group at Article 8 and their email list didn't want just the mannequins removed, they wanted it all gone.
Macy's issued a press release about the incident:
Elina Kazan, New York-based spokeswoman for Macy's, said the decision to pull the dummies, but leave the rest of the display, was an effort to strike a balance.
"We believe in diversity, and our customersare very important to us," Kazan told the Herald, adding that displays supporting Pride Week in previous years did not use mannequins. "But (the display) did offend a few of our customers, and we had to reexamine it."
So in trying to "strike a balance" Macy's has pleased no one. Further, they have put the mannequins where Article 8 would like to put gay people, in the closet. I found this great quote over at Towleroad that sums up my feelings exactly:
since the company made gay people disappear from her store window because they are offensive, I and all my family will to make my presence and my credit card disappear forever from Macys AND Bloomingdales, who are the same company.
Here are some contacts over at Federated Department Stores which operates the following stores: Famous-Barr, Filene's, Foley's, Hecht's, Kaufmann's, L.S. Ayres, Marshall Field's, Meier & Frank, Robinsons-May, Strawbridge's, The Jones Store:
Customer Service: 800-526-1202
Public Relations: 212-494-3893
and some emails:
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,
lisa.kauffman@macys.com,
ellen.fruchtman@macys.com,
elina.kazan@macys.com,
ronnie.taffet@macys.com
Addition: Margery Eagan of The Boston Herald has a column in today's Herald on the Macy's/Massresistance mess. Check it out, it sums up Article 8 perfectly.
12 comments:
I join you in your request for a boycott and have posted such on queertoday.com with a link.
Unless the mannequins are placed back in the window and an apology issued, I too am boycotting macy's/federated. I am closing my Macy's credit line today!
I commend this site,and all supporters who take action. I too am closing my macy's account today, with a clear statement as to why. THANK YOU for posting, AND Massresistance watching!
Wonderful! Stay out of Macy's and Bloomingdales and all the other Federated stores. Mainstream America thanks you.
yo Moron.. if "we" stay out of Federated stores they will close. We may be only 10% of the population but we spend like we are 50% (and Macy's et al know it too)... so you and your bigot friends enjoy the out of business sales...We'll be at Nordies. by the way you're not Mainstream America either... that faction believes in equality not your Christian ethic of injustice... Brian is that U? Go crawl back under the rock you've been hiding under
Gay people aren't mainstream? In what way? We have jobs, own houses, pay taxes, and vote, amongst other things.
What's not mainstream is devoting your life to limiting rights for people who aren't exactly like you. It's un-American. if you want to live in a totalitarian theocracy, move to Saudi Arabia.
Oh come on. Macy's has a long history of supporting Pride, especially in Boston. Boycottiing them just helps the bigots. And wearing those stupid flag skirts just makes you look, well, stupid.
regardless of what you do, if you are in the downtown crossing/boston area, stop by macy's and go downstairs to the executive offices. . . i went yesterday to say "thanks for the window, please consider putting it back up," and discovered they were keeping a tally. and their "cons" far outnumbered their "pros."
Anonymous (one of you at least),
Macy's removed two male mannequins which stood next to a Pride Week List. There is no question that there was nothing sexual about this display. Also, the Pride website and well as the Aids Action website was removed. These are the facts, this is the reality.
There really is nothing I can say to you if you do no understand that these "mannequins" were removed because they were perceived to be gay. Doesn't that hit just a little too close to home? It does for me.
Hello all -
Please read my critique in my blog:
http://aardvark.iblog.com/
Thank you.
"yo Moron.. if "we" stay out of Federated stores they will close. We may be only 10% of the population but we spend like we are 50%."
Aren't you a clever one. If you're 10% of the population, I assume that includes teens and college students. Not too many of them are shopping at Macy's or Bloomingdales. Don't know what the stats are but anyone with a high school education knows that 50% is absurd. I doubt it's even 1%.
Why do you equate Christianity with anti-gay sentiments? There are large numbers of non-Christians who feel the same way. Do some traveling and you'll see that for yourself.
Anonymous 11:41:
I've visited 48 out of 50 states and lived in Houston, Detroit, Minneapolis, London, Dallas, Boston, and Budapest. I can safely say that a small group of "Christian" extremists have been at the heart of the anti-gay movement in every place I've been.
I do agree that not all Christians are homophobes.
p.s. 16-25 year olds are THE core target audience for advertisers. Why do you think that is?
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