Some Shops Reject Same-Sex Wedding Cards

A manager says seven Hallmark greeting card stores in the Treasure Valley will not carry the company's new same-sex marriage cards.

Cassi Jacobsen, an assistant manager for the Jordan's Hallmark store in Nampa's Karcher Mall, says the family that owns the seven area stores has decided against carrying the new line of greeting cards.

She said the owners were out of town and not immediately available for comment.

Hallmark added the cards after California joined Massachusetts as the only U.S. states with legal gay marriage. A handful of other states have recognized same-sex civil unions.

The language inside the cards is neutral, with no mention of wedding or marriage, making them also suitable for a commitment ceremony. Hallmark says the move is a response to consumer demand, not any political pressure.

"It's our goal to be as relevant as possible to as many people as we can," Hallmark spokeswoman Sarah Gronberg Kolell said.

Hallmark says all of its stores can choose whether they want to add the latest offerings.

Reaction to the cards has been mixed.

Idaho Values Alliance Executive Director Bryan Fischer sent out a press release Thursday calling for local-area Hallmark stores not to carry the cards.

"Hallmark, the venerable greeting card company, is doing nationwide what 48 states and the federal government have refused to do, and that is to recognize homosexual marriage," Fischer wrote.

But Delmar Stone of Nampa, executive director of the National Association of Social Workers - Idaho Chapter, called the cards "wonderful."

Jody May-Chang, the Boise editor of the gay rights Web site PrideDEPOT.com, called the decision a bullying tactic.

Hallmark's largest competitor, American Greetings Corp., has no plans to enter the market, saying its current offerings are general enough to speak to a lot of different relationships.

[dmswolves]

MCVet-1

That is very sad to tell your children that people of confused. Apparently you were not brought up to accept EVERYONE!!! no matter who they are. This is why we have problems today, people that have children do not stop judging people how they live. You should tell your children the truth about how the world is round and that they should accept who the person is and not because you do not believe that gay/lesbian people are normal, they pay taxes just like everyone else does, so why not have the same rights as everyone else. All you are doing is keeping your children from living in this world of diverse communities.
Same gender sexual relationships (in my opinion) are confused perverse people with their brains in their pants that either can''''t or won''''t have a normal male/female relationship for who knows what reason (each is individual I''''m sure).

I just tell the kids that some people are confused.

[850Rick]

Whether or not each of us agrees with it is not relevant, rather what is relevant is that these card shops are putting personal belief ahead of what is considered business and a market for that business. Personally I do not agree with same *** marriages, but if it makes them happy and doesn''t infringe on me, I don''t care. If I ran a business that sold cards, to me it would simply be another market I could tap into and make money. I think people need to get over themselves and stop telling others how they should run their lives and concentrate on their own affairs instead.

[truthislife1]

God does''nt change at all. He''s always the same. Your god, however, may sway with everything else.

[fsw3]

If you don''t want to marry a gay person don''t. It''s not your business. Our society is changing, and so is God. Our concepts of God have changed drastically over theyears.

[hologram5]

Every religious group, all of you who are spouting bible...it''''s just so irritating. Do you really believe that the spew is relevant to our existence? No, it isn''''t.

Find your own forum-not here. Knock off the spew.



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Posted by CarlyLaine at 07:05 AM : Aug 27, 2008
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It is called freedom of speech and it is the same thing that lets you speak here. If you don''t like it then you leave...

[carlylaine]

Every religious group, all of you who are spouting bible...it''s just so irritating. Do you really believe that the spew is relevant to our existence? No, it isn''t.

Find your own forum-not here. Knock off the spew.

[longtree-2009]

What''s the big deal, anyway. Marriage is a big joke. If gay marriage is approved in any state, hoping that prostitution will be too!

[andor3]

"Andor3 you are a complete idiot. You know nothing about me and I assure you I am educated and am doing well..."

I repeat: I can see why Hallmarks decision angers gay haters--being marginalized stings, truth hurts. If you choose to be in a group like anti-gay that is small and has little economic clout, then you get the consequences.

It is delightfully ironic to see the anti-gay folks being ignored and marginalized.

[andor3]

"Andor3 you are a complete idiot. You know nothing about me and I assure you I am educated and am doing well..."

I repeat: I can see why Hallmarks decision angers gay haters--being marginalized stings, truth hurts. If you choose to be in a group like anti-gay that is small and has little economic clout, then you get the consequences.

It is delightfully ironic to see the anti-gay folks being ignored and marginalized.

[andor3]

"Andor3 you are a complete idiot. You know nothing about me and I assure you I am educated and am doing well..."

I repeat: I can see why Hallmarks decision angers gay haters--being marginalized stings, truth hurts. If you choose to be in a group like anti-gay that is small and has little economic clout, then you get the consequences.

It is delightfully ironic to see the anti-gay folks being ignored and marginalized.