A Christian group opposed to LGBT
rights is asking Walmart to remove an ad featuring a gay couple.
The promotional video series Love is
in the Aisle: A Dating Show at Walmart features
blind dates held at Walmart. The
second episode features Andy and Pat, who share “pan” puns as
they shop their local Walmart.
The American Family
Association (AFA) is urging members to sign a petition asking Walmart
to remove the video.
“In a move that
most Christians probably never expected to see, retail giant Walmart
has posted an online video that normalizes homosexual relationships.
For most Christians and other traditionalists, the idea that marriage
is between a man and a woman is sacred. We’ve seen many large
corporations reject that in their marketing, but I honestly never
thought Walmart would join the cultural revolution and reject the
beliefs of its customer base,” the petition states.
“It’s clear
that Walmart is on the path of elevating homosexual relationships to
the same level as the male-female model of marriage. We have no
choice but to ask our supporters to let the company know how they,
the customers, feel about Walmart’s shift away from neutrality on
this controversial issue to full support for same-sex relationships.”
As of Saturday,
nearly 98,000 people have signed the petition.
The AFA is also
asking people to call Walmart. “Firmly but politely urge them to
remove the pro-homosexual video and remain neutral on controversial
issues.” the AFA said.
The Southern
Poverty Law Center (SPLC) has labeled the AFA a hate group for its
anti-LGBT rhetoric.