The anti-gay group which protested
Ellen DeGeneres is now targeting Archie Comics and Toys R Us.
The AFA-sponsored group One Million
Moms has moved from protesting talk show host DeGeneres' role as
spokesperson for JCPenney because she's openly gay to targeting Toys
R Us for selling the January issue (#16) of Life with Archie,
which features recently introduced gay character Kevin Keller's
wedding day.
(Related: Ellen
DeGeneres is the perfect choice for JCPenney, CEO Ron Johnson says.)
Cover artwork for the issue shows Kevin
and husband Clay standing in front of a Just Married sign as the gang
cheers on.
“These comic books are sold at the
front checkout counters so they are highly visible to employees,
mangers, customers and children,” the group wrote. “Unfortunately,
children are now being exposed to same-sex marriage in a toy store.
This is the last place a parent would expect to be confronted with
questions from their children on topics that are too complicated for
them to understand. Issues of this nature are being introduced too
early and too soon, which is becoming extremely common and
unnecessary.”
The group is threatening to boycott
Toys R Us if it does not comply with the group's demand to remove the
issue from store shelves.
John Goldwater, co-CEO of Archie
Comics, responded to the protest by saying he stands by the comic
book's inclusion of Kevin.
“We stand by Life with Archie
#16,” Goldwater said in a statement. “As I've said before,
Riverdale is a safe, welcoming place that does not judge anyone.
It's an idealized version of America that will hopefully become
reality someday. We're sorry the American Family
Association/OneMillionMoms.com feels so negatively about our product,
but they have every right to their opinion, just like we have the
right to stand by ours. Kevin Keller will forever be a part of
Riverdale, and he will live a happy, long life free of prejudice,
hate and narrow-minded people.”