by John M.
Member since:
August 8, 2006

Queer-Friendly Holiday Shopping

December 03, 2006 06:56 PM EST (Updated: December 03, 2006 06:58 PM EST)
views: 54 | rating: 10/10 (2 votes) | comments: 14

In the commercial bonanza that is the yule season, the Human Rights Campaign has provided a list along with their scores on the HRC's 2006 Equality Index, which rates how well companies treat thign GLBT employees.  This list can help GLBT folks and allies spend their pink dollars on companies with similar views about the way to treat employees, regardless of sexual orientation.

Now this list addresses only one isse and mkes no attempt to address other issues that may be important to shoppers such as the paying of fair wages to international employees or the their ecological policies. So, for those issues, one must search elsewhere. This however, is the only place I am aware of where one can get this information.

Of particular interest to me are groups that market to the gay community (Firestone) or who have advertisements that exploit gay imagery (Abercrombie & Fitch) and do little to support their GLBT workers.

The list is located here. Happy shopping!

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Comments: 14

☀ Aunt Shanny Dec 3, 2006, 8:13pm EST
Question: You don't think "queer" is a derogatory term? Just curious.
John M. Dec 3, 2006, 8:24pm EST
No, I don't. I always wonder about using it, though. I use it to mean the non-heterosexual community; it is easier than listing out the constituancies. It is primarily an academic term, I suppose, and I need to be mindful about it's usage.

I would not use it to describe and individual, but I think in describing the glbt community, it is appropriate, I believe. I hope that clarifies, thanks for the question.
I went to a glbt meeting for a class I was taking. That very same question was asked and they were arguing among each other as to whether it was right. Then someone brought up the tv show....
John M. Dec 3, 2006, 8:36pm EST
...? Shelly? Shelly? Are you ok? Can someone check on her?
Tonia, who hugs trees G. Dec 3, 2006, 8:45pm EST
Great article John - will have to check it out. As for the use of queer - I think it has been embraced by the gay community along with other barbs (dyke, fag, etc) in a way that negates a lot of the sting when they are hurled as insults towards us.
☀ Aunt Shanny Dec 3, 2006, 9:47pm EST
That's the impression I get, Tonia. By embracing it, the gay community has taken away the "sting" it might normally have.
John M. Dec 4, 2006, 10:48am EST
Joshua, while I cetainly understand and respect that position, I think that advocates of queer, I think would say that even the initials don't capture the full meaning of what they are trying to capture with queer. Its shock and history are part of the message. I think the reference to "the N word" is accurate, though queer has much less history and violence associated with it, only to an extent. While queer has been embraced by academic circles, the N word hasn't. I'm cautious with my use of it, generally. And again, wouldn't use it to describe a person, which may seem a fine distinction to some, but justifies it in my head.

Interesting discussion. Maybe worthy of it's own post; I'll try and work something up. Thanks Joshua!
Joe T. Dec 4, 2006, 10:52am EST
The term "queer" does have negative connotations and was used casually to put down gays and lesbians. I don't use it because I see it as equal to the "n" word.

Thanks for the article. I'm always interested in knowing which companies are friendly or even affirming of the gay/lesbian community.
John M. Dec 6, 2006, 1:55am EST
Thanks for the info, it makes shopping with a conscience a little easier when groups like hrc compile list like these. Now I just need to compare these with my enivronmentaly friendly, labor friendly, and animal friendly shopping list!
Charlene Sharp Dec 16, 2006, 3:54pm EST
I don't like the word queer I have seen what happens to a student in school. They attached that name to. It's hard to laugh it off when you are 15 or 16 and being punished for the way God made you. I hate the fact that we have so many negative words to call each other. I like the use of LGBT though, it has a sound of strength in numbers. Thanks for the information!
I used to work with an LGBT youth group. One of the kids in my group came home in tears every day because she was called a dyke. I gave her my definition of dyke which is a strong assertive lesbian. From then on every time someone called her a dyke she said thank you.
John M. Dec 20, 2006, 12:06pm EST
I know that it's used so negatively in school Charlene, although not as much as fag or dyke.

That was a good way to help that woman Melissa; it's a lesson, I'm sure she'll remember forever.
Being called names no matter what your age hurts. It's about turning the negative into positive. I love the word queer, I think it describes me better than any other word. When I was a kid I was always different than the other kids. Queer used to hurt until I embraced it as a positive description.

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