My sister just sent me this link.

http://www.afa.net/Petitions/Issuedetail.asp?id=329

If you're too lazy to click the link:



I find two things interesting about this "issue". The first is that Hallmark is recognizing the rising same-sex marriage laws as something that should be recognized in a positive light, and is therefore making greeting cards dealing with it. It's very smart, and very bold, but also very risky.

The second thing I noticed is that AFA is claiming that same-sex marriage is illegal in 48 states. True, full "marriage" is legal in only two states, but riddle me this: If I go to my county clerks office and ask the state of New Jersey to recognize my union with my S/O, will I be denied? No, so we're down to 47. If I do the same in Vermont, will I be denied? No, 46. I don't know how the other 46 states are handling the issue, but I do foresee things changing in those other states and aligning, slowly, with the laws in California, Massachusetts, Vermont, and New Jersey.

Thoughts?

Robbie, FYI NJ does have civil unions... its not marriage but it is something close to it...

You should know this since you live in this wonderful (gack) state

Here are the cards in question for those curious...

Click to view attachmentClick to view attachmentClick to view attachment

yep have these in the uk too! just like you will find his and his, hers and hers, alongside all the his and hers stuff in shops now too.

celia

*coos at the cuteness*
Okay, now that I've done my girly thing...
Hallmark has hit on a gold mine for them. It's because of the fact that more and more gay couples are doing the marriage thing, semi or not.
It's so wrong...really to promote love and companion ship, really it is.
The guy is an IDIOT who is backwards in his thinking. I'm still so surprised when I find people like this being able to speak at all...no matter how mean that sounds, it's true.

Eric, I am aware of civil unions here. I merely stated that we are one of the states who not turn away a gay couple seeking marital rights of some form. It's not full marriage, but it's better than total rejection.

This is clearly another examply of a bunch of hypocritical people who have nothing better to do than to tell people what the hell they can do in their bedrooms. I wonder how many of these morons go around cheating on their wives on Saturday and then go to church Sunday morning spewing how wonderful Jesus is when they are just as sinful as the people like us that they hate. As for Hallmark, I think they should start making cards that are are a lot more obvious than those three, because I really like making the hypocrites sweat. The ones they do have are quite nice, but I would love to see one with two men embracing or something like that. I will say no more, because I'll start getting too political.

Same-sex wedding cards are perfect for Canada and other countries where unions are allowed (including partnerships, civil unions, etc.).

Even though it's not too hard for me to find a card for my spouse. I just look for "husband" and there are plenty.

It's just a matter of getting a card where it doesn't say "husband and wife" on every one of them.

Cards aren't illegal. Having an unsanctioned same-sex marriage is not illegal.

It's just a ploy to impose one group's will on a company that thinks of the market. That's free market and the very group is most likely all for freedom of market. Yet they go promote restricting it what they don't like. If they don't like it, then don't shop there. No one is forcing them to. Again, free market...you've the right to choose where to do business with and business has the right to make business to a specific market.

Yahyahyah.

I know I just wanted to bust your chops



Yea I can see a big market for that.

It just seems that groups like this only see the small picture instead of the big picture. I hope one day the get the blinders taken off their heads and see that marriage is about love not a man and woman.

*sigh*

The cards are cute.


Now I've already got a stupid thing from my preacher, pretty much the same thing Robbie linked, and I hate that people have to resort to drastic measures when it's not really hurting them... I mean, I can understand things a lot better if they want to try and block anything that interferes with their every day existence... like smoking in public restaurants and such.. as that affects the health of everyone around the smoker... but as far as gay wedding hallmark cards.. those don't hurt... one may get a paper cut from them... but please... people need to get a life it seems.


I like that Hallmark has taken on Gay wedding cards. I hope more card companies do the same.

I find this amusing. I mean, greeting cards exist for everything from "Hug Your Cat Day" to "Congratulations on your Divorce". And they're complaining about cards for gay weddings? Give me a break! The AFA needs to get a life.

By the way, if you ever want to send someone a card for an odd or totally pointless occasion, there's a great list of weird and wacky holidays here. (Left Handers day was August 13th, and I got disappointingly few greeting cards from you folks... what's wrong, you got a problem with lefties or something? )

Maybe Hallmark will tell them to do just that.

I don't find a thing wrong with left handers. A couple of my boyfriends were left handed.

Gah enough with the family sh*t

Good for hallmark hope they tell them to shove it.

I think those cards are great! Hallmark is awesome. Times are changing, the laws are changing--the greeting cards need to change along with it! There's a backlash because traditional people or whatever are not used to it, and most people hate change, especially ignorant people with ample time on their hands. I hope Hallmark continues making cards like these and does not back down. And for the most part, I think a lot of people are in favor of these cards, gay and straight alike. I mean, even a straight person could have a ton of gay friends. We need to buy them the proper cards, people! We don't want to commit a social faux-pas and buy "his and her"/ "husband and wife" cards. Hallmark is really doing us, the consumer, a favor.

I hope that worked. well thats a basic one, but thats the sort of thing they sell in our card shops. I once saw his and his towels, mugs etc.

Consumerism. Supply and demand. A niche market. Hallmark will make a bundle while American Greetings will sit on their raft of righteousness and hope they stay afloat.

Next time I need to buy a card, I know where my money's going...

And made that group think that their lifestyle is healthy?

How about a card for it was a really nice one night stand and I'm almost sorry I gave you Pizza Hut's number???

Well, I must say I was pleased that the AFA offered a link to the chairman of Hallmark's email address. I used it to send him a pleasant email thanking him for his company's continued dedication to equality and sensitivity.

I did the same. Hallmark deserve our thanks.

Then I got a disposable email address and... uh... slightly modified the AFA text and sent my "information". I clicked on the "confirmation" email then deleted my disposable email address.

I think the AFA form is automated and the messages are not reviewed by humans. Won't Hallmark be surprised when they receive an email from AFA in favor of their gay cards.

Colin

See Kevin, your a brilliant guy because I never would've thought of doing that

*Rushes off to open Thunderbird and email away*

I'mma go type away now too! Can't have too many thanks I'd say
Do you really need to press the confirmation e-mail?

I think if you don't click the confirmation email they will sutomatically deep-six your message after some period of time (like 30 days). Be sure to use a disposable email address otherwise you'll get crap email from the AFA. Just go to a webmail site you don't use and sign up for an account, then after clicking the confirmation email close the account.

Colin

Is it normal I didn't get that confirmation?

I haven't gotten one either. *shrugs* But, I've sent my thanks. Hopefully the support will outweigh the complaints. I remember - not too long ago - Heinz pulled a commercial (This one) that featured two men kissing after about two hundred complaints. Mommies and Daddies don't want to explain to poor little Jane why two men are kissing each other. Silly parents. I fear for Jane.

Thanks Hallmark!

I think the new cards are cute and lovely, although while not being as open as other cards- (cough)birthgay(cough) being from Hallmark they send an entire different message, a message which should hopefully help to persuade more companies to make products/items with the LGBT consumer in mind.

EmulatedLove

Thank You Hallmark for going out to reach where the market calls.

.............I think I'm going to e-mail Hallmark, because of their stance on equality I will only buy their cards from now on. Instead of those 'cheap' quick laugh ones you see at the stores.

Hmmm... I definitely will buy from Hallmark, but I do admit I will buy the 'cheap' quick laugh ones...

Eh, today was my last day at work (sort of) and I forgot to check out the card section before leaving... we sell Hallmark cards that are handled by a lady from the Hallmark store next door to us. I might go out again later after buying a new car insurance policy to check out Deaf books at Borders, and then quickly check out the Hallmark store and the section of Hallmark cards at my store to see if they really are selling those cards. If so, I'm taking pictures with my phone...

Interesting little clip. Thanks for the link, J.Ross

Don't get in trouble


Yea I thought it was too

Went out today to have my uncle check out some problems on my car, then decided to swing by Borders and Hallmark on the way back. Hallmark did not have the cards in the Weddings and Anniversaries section, so dunno if they're just not out yet, or what.

Nice little pic here...



The text says "Two Hearts. One Promise." There are a few others.

And, here's an article on the topic that mentions other companies the AFA has 'boycotted', including McDonalds, Disney, and Kraft. The AFA had very little impact, if any, in most cases.

i havent been to a hallmark in a long time but when i go to the city i will have to check the hallmark just for fun to see if we have these gay cards. The only time i ever buy hallmark cards is if its for someone really important or to make it extra special. At the pharmacy in town the hallmark cards are like $10 and up. Where i can just go to any other store and buy a $1 or $2 card. The only time i will buy hallmark cards is if the design is really nice and has a really nice message. My mother is the type of person where EVERY holiday she has to buy cards for everyone. I am so glad i do not do that. Instead i'll just verbally say "hey Merry Christmas"

If i was married or whatever we want to call it and like come anniversary times or whatever and your expected to buy your hubby a card. If i had a hard time finding the card and found 1 that said from your wife. I'd just go buy some white out:) or Pretty Markers:) Hell just make your own card like back in Preschool!.

As for promoting unhealthy lifestyles its a stupid arguement that the person writing the chain letter is writing. I could see if it was "Happy Heart Attack!". I often joke with friends that i should start my own greeting card business for things like that. and much worse. like "Today your wife left you. Love Your Ex Mistress"

I noticed that the person who wrote the rant was very careful to say as much as possible without ever actually giving any reason for it being wrong. They clutched to their "illegal in 48 states" banner quite tightly, and seemed quite proud of the number, but they tried to make it out that that was the only issue. Also, I may be wrong here but to my knowledge you can't really describe gay marriages as being banned by the law in most states... they just weren't even thought about when the laws were written. Thats like trying to say that very few people own a TV and then using stats from the '40s as your evidence.


Oh, and about the whole 'boycott Hallmark' thing... if you hear anybody saying to do that because of these cards, just tell them that they are trying to interfere with the Free Market and as such are a Communist. It's not correct, but it has more logic than their arguements and you're sure to make them squirm for a moment at least .


Martin

I just read an article about the Hallmark gay cards in Houston's GLBT magazine, OutSmart. It actually made some great points about how this development will probably be the nail in the coffin of the locally owned and operated gay business which produce their own gay greeting cards. Evidently Hallmark also received a very positive 90 out of 100 points from Human Rights Campaign for its dedication to equal rights and non-discrimination.

So I'll definitely try to support Hallmark, but I'll also see what I can do to support the local gay businesses as well.

I wouldn't necessarily say it's over for the local gay businesses, it just depends on what they sell. The Hallmark cards are still kinda vague I think, except the one with two tuxedos. If the local businesses offer better cards (and should if they have been doing them for longer) then they should be fine. Besides, they have to sell other things besides cards, right?

Well, here in Houston we have several 'gay stores' at which you can buy books, magazines, shirts, novelties, and sexual paraphernalia. The gay cards are usually also sold in a section of these stores. So I'm assuming some company supplies the cards to the store. I certainly don't think Hallmark cards would threaten the business of the stores themselves to any great extent, but I have no idea what else the card makers themselves make. So it seems possible that if interest and sales significantly declined the cards might not be available there anymore.

On the other hand, you're right about the quality. Hallmark has three cards. There's usually a whole wall full of the gay cards at these stores. You also have a much bigger range. You can get everything from dirty, to funny, to sentimental.

I think the big issue would be the convenience factor. The last time I bought one for a friend it was last minute (on the way to his party) and I had to go out of my way to pick one up. Had they been available at a CVS or something I probably would have just stopped there for speed and convenience. Of course with proper planning I'd rather have gone to the store with more selection.

-Kevin

That brings to mind another thing... if Hallmark increases its gay card library I don't think it would be out of the question for them to cut deals with these stores to see their cards inside the stores. Usually "gay stores" are within "gayborhoods", so it would be beneficial to Hallmark as it injects their products into the community. Like I said before, my store (Kohl's) has three whole walls (two aisles) dedicated to Hallmark cards. This area increases to the adjoining Seasonal department during the holidays (Christmas, Chanukuh, etc.) to include decorations and ornaments and such. The cards themselves are handled entirely by a Hallmark employee. Guess what is next door? I mean DIRECTLY next door, buildings attached? A Hallmark store.

Also, like you said, they sell in convenience stores, so I think it's entirely possible that Hallmark would try to sell their line of gay wedding cards in gay stores in major cities. Now, I say major cities (Houston, New York City, Philadelpia, Boston, Chicago, L.A., S.F., Miami, N.O., etc. etc.) because I think gayborhoods in the country (such as New Hope, PA) would not get such attention... but New Hope is out of my way no matter what anyway for just a card.

The AFA is behind a great deal of the muckracking in the California election tomorrow...I just wish they were more concerned over the "Congratulations on Your Divorce" card instead of same sex marriage...but I guess Randy What's-his-name who is the AFA Director wants to keep his options to divorce open--go figure!
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