J.C. Penney Stands with Ellen DeGeneres, Won’t Fire Her as Spokesperson shared by Waymon Hudson

New York, NY, February 3, 2012- GLAAD, the nation’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) media advocacy and anti-defamation organization, today applauded J.C. Penney’s decision keep Ellen DeGeneres as their national spokesperson after “OneMillionMoms.com – a project of the American Family Association” – which is designated as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) – demanded that J.C. Penney fire Ellen DeGeneres because she is gay earlier this week.

  

In an emailed statement to Yahoo! Shine, J.C. Penney today confirmed it "stands behind its partnership with Ellen DeGeneres.”

GLAAD is continuing to ask supporters to thank J.C. Penney by signing a Change.org action here: www.glaad.org/standupforellen

In less than two days, nearly 25,000 have signed. For more info and a list of states where Americans can be fired for being gay or transgender:www.glaad.org/standupforellen

“This week Americans spoke out in overwhelming support of LGBT people and J.C. Penney’s decision not to fire Ellen simply for who she happens to love,” said Herndon Graddick, Senior Director of Programs and Communications at GLAAD. “But while Ellen has the nation on her side, in 29 states today, Americans can still be legally fired just for being gay. Our elected officials should use this incident as yet another example of the support for legal protections for all hard working employees.”

Today, Americans can be fired in 29 states because of their sexual orientation, and in 34 states because of their gender identity.

Blogs including Joe My God, Think Progress, Lez Get Real and Towleroad first broke the news about the American Family Association’s demands to fire Ellen and joined GLAAD in calling on community members and allies to thank J.C. Penney. In an overwhelming display of support, a poll on the Los Angeles Times site shows 94% of readers polled agree that Ellen should not only maintain her post as J.C. Penney’s spokesperson, but call Ellen “a symbol of equality.”

Jeremy Hooper of Good As You notes that "One Million Moms- a project of the American Family Association" has a long history of working to strip LGBT people of vital protections, including actions against Johnson & Johnson after the company extended domestic partner benefits to LGBT employees and Cracker Barrel after the chain added workplace protections for gay and lesbian employees.

About GLAAD

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) amplifies the voice of the LGBT community by empowering real people to share their stories, holding the media accountable for the words and images they present, and helping grassroots organizations communicate effectively. By ensuring that the stories of LGBT people are heard through the media, GLAAD promotes understanding, increases acceptance, and advances equality. For more information, please visit www.glaad.org or connect with GLAAD at www.glaad.org/connect

GLAAD: Should Ellen Be fired for being gay? #NO

As you may have heard, last week retail giant J.C. Penney announced a new partnership with America's favorite daytime talk show host, Ellen DeGeneres.

And while millions of Americans -- both LGBT and straight -- applauded the partnership, "One Million Moms," a project of the designated hate group American Family Association, launched a nationwide campaign demanding that the retailer fire Ellen simply because she's gay. According to this anti-gay group, Ellen isn't a "true representation of the type of families that shop at their store." 

This couldn't be further from the truth.

Now, more people than ever celebrate the love of every family -- gay or straight -- and know that no person should be ridiculed, much less fired, simply for being who they are. But even today, Americans can be fired in 29 states for being gay and in 34 states for being transgender.

The American Family Association an organization that the Southern Poverty Law Center has designated as a "hate group" -- is spreading anti-gay attitudes and bias by asking its supporters to contact J.C. Penney and tell the company to fire Ellen simply because of who she is.

Stand Up For Ellen. Thank J.C. Penney for standing up to the hate group that wants Ellen fired for being gay.

Add your name to the growing list of supporters for J.C. Penney's decision not to fire Ellen at www.glaad.org/standupforellen

Thank you for taking a stand today.