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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsA Company’s Stand for Gay Marriage In NC and Its Cost
In the months leading up to North Carolinas vote this month to ban gay marriage, most of the states business leaders were conspicuously silent. While some executives spoke out against it as individuals, not one Fortune 500 company headquartered in North Carolina, including Bank of America, Duke Energy, VF Corporation and Lowes, opposed it.
But one company did: Replacements Limited, which sells silver, china and glassware, and is based in Greensboro. Its founder and chairman, Bob Page, is gay. The company lobbied legislators, contributed money to causes supporting gay marriage, rented a billboard along the interstate near its headquarters, and sold T-shirts at its showroom. Its experience may explain why no other for-profit company followed its example.
Bob Page, chief executive of Replacements, Ltd., in Greensboro, N.C., received hostile mail after lobbying against the state's ban on gay marriage.
Hostile letters and e-mails poured into the company from customers canceling their business and demanding to be removed from its e-mail list. I understand that your company donated $250,000 or so to the effort to ban the marriage amendment, read one. I am very concerned that with an increased visibility and acceptance of the gay and lesbian lifestyle, one of my children, who would have grown up and been happily married to a husband, could be tempted to the lesbian lifestyle.
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http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/26/business/replacements-limiteds-stand-for-gay-marriage-draws-repercussions.html?_r=1&
Send him a message if nothing else. He deserves to know that he has a lot of support and respect.
Page certainly has more courage than the other huge corporate momsers. They have infinitely larger resources, but they are chickenshits.
annabanana
(52,791 posts)xchrom
(108,903 posts)From antique to the most contemporary - you've never seen so much table top ware in your life.
And they're pet friendly!
The owners bring their dachsies - and let other employees bring their dogs.
They have a GREAT Internet service - if you provide a picture of the china your looking for - they'll find if they don't already have it.
pnwmom
(109,020 posts)Now that I know about the owner, I'll make a point of shopping here when I need something.
pnwmom
(109,020 posts)Thanks for posting this.
This guy is another "ordinary hero," just going about his life in a very brave way.
freshwest
(53,661 posts)Who sent him hate email and refused to do business with a man exercising his right to be for or against anything, imagine what they would do if the tables were turned?
The regression in this country and the world depress me and make me wonder if we'll ever get it right here on Planet Earth.