A campaign to fire Ellen DeGeneres as
the spokeswoman for JCPenney because she is openly gay has roundly
been rejected by the company.
The group One Million Moms, which is
closely associated with the Christian conservative group American
Family Association (AFA), called on JCPenney to fire DeGeneres.
“By jumping on the pro-gay bandwagon,
JCPenney 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.”
The 54-year-old DeGeneres, who publicly
came out in 1997, is the host of The Ellen DeGeneres Show and
is a spokesperson for CoverGirl and American Express. DeGeneres
married actress Portia DeRossi in 2008.
“While designated hate groups try to
start 'culture wars,' it's clear that a vast majority of Americans
today support Ellen as well as their LGBT friends and family
members,” Herndon Graddick, senior director of programs and
communications at GLAAD, said in a statement. “Selecting an out
performer who has inspired and entertained millions, is not only a
smart business practice, but a reflection of how LGBT Americans today
are an integral and valued part of the fabric of our culture.”
In an emailed statement to Yahoo!,
JCPenny confirmed it “stands behind its partnership with Ellen
DeGeneres.”
An online
petition in support of DeGeneres launched by media advocacy and
anti-defamation group GLAAD had attracted nearly 24,000 signatures by
Friday afternoon.