cabs' Editor's Note Regarding The Target Boycott:

It is Christmastime folks, the time that we all flock to the stores (any store, every store!) in order to fill stockings and cross names off our gift lists.  This may seem like the most difficult time of year to continue a boycott on Target, the super store of cheap and plenty.  However, this is the most important time to continue it.  This is when our boycott can make the most difference.  This is when they expect us all to forget the significant anti-gay candidate support and overlook their refusal to apologize for it.  This is when they know our desire to shop has the possibility to trump our values and sadly, our self-respect.  But on the flipside, this is the time when they are counting on our cash the most.  This is when they need the numbers in order to get out of the black for the year.  And this is when a collective boycott by the GLBTQIA community can make the biggest impact.  Don't give them your money so that they can continue to give it to people who actively work for anti-equality legislation.  There are plenty of online shops that can provide you with whatever you need. Consider doing one better than that.  Consider heading out into your own cities and towns and buying your gifts from locally-owned businesses.  Those are the businesses and people who support you.  This season, choose to give your money back to them; choose to make that present for your loved one a present to your community as well.  I plead with you, no matter how hard it might be to drive past the giant bullseye, don't forget that they put a bullseye on your back.  Put your money where your mouth is and buy local. 

I wrote ESPN.  I was looking for information on gay professional athletes when I came across an article on ESPN's website by LZ Granderson.  LZ is one of the few openly gay sportswriters.  He writes for ESPN's Page 2 and also hosts the web-based ESPN360 talk show Game Night.  The article, entitled "My conversations with a gay pro athlete," was great and it made me think about how exciting it is that ESPN has a little gay representation!  So, I emailed the sports powerhouse and asked if they could put me in touch with someone I could exchange emails with or talk to within the company about the pressures associated with being gay in professional and collegiate sports and/or the hardships or stigmas related to being gay in the sports spotlight.  Sadly, ESPN offered this response: I am sorry for the inconvenience; however, I have no one I can refer to you on this subject.  Please contact some of the GLBT organizations for assistance.  I was stunned (although I suppose I should’ve expected it).  It was hugely disappointing that ESPN dismissed the inquisition, suggesting I get in touch with a GLBT organization.  I am a GLBT organization.  I'm reaching out to ESPN to ask a sports organization.  At least, if they are keeping up with the wide world of sports, they should have some kind of comment on the newly-released documentary Training Rules.  AT LEAST.  Now, the irony of all of this lies in the fact that I got the idea to contact ESPN about the subject from reading an article written by one of their (gay) employees, on their website, about being gay in professional sports, and this guy responded as if it were crazy that I might think ESPN has any kind of relationship with anything GLBT.  This, of course, is part of the problem.  Athletes find themselves under tremendous pressure not to be, or least not let anybody know they are, gay.  The idea that ESPN has absolutely no one within their organization to refer me to regarding anything GLBT related seems to reinforce the very lack of understanding that leads to the stifling of sexual orientation in sports (unless, of course, your sexual orientation is straight, in which case they encourage you to take your shirt off and strike a sexy pose).  I identify as a lesbian athlete.  This all rubs me the wrong way.  ESPN, buck up!  It’s your responsibility to help create a world that is accepting of ALL athletes.  It is your responsibility to talk about it, embrace it, offer an environment where there is no stigma attached to out athletes.  Support these athletes, ESPN.  Allow others to come out of the closet and stop hiding and ruining their lives outside of the arena.  It is your responsibility too. 

(After ranting and raving, I did look up more about ESPN and the GLBT community.  Turns out ESPN has sponsored the Gay Games, been recognized by the Commercial Closet, and made good efforts to diversify the company as a whole.  However, that being said, I couldn’t find much in recent news and those awards and efforts mostly seemed dated back to the early 90’s and early 00’s.   But, ESPN is not the devil.  And I do applaud those early efforts.  But it seems like now is the time to step up the game.  While I appreciate ESPN, the company, trying to make itself diverse and GLBT friendly, I think it’s time for ESPN, the great sports influence, to help make the sports community more GLBT friendly.  It isn’t simply saying you’re okay with gays, it’s being okay with gays, and showing them that it’s safe and commendable to come out in sports.)