Kmart Exec Officially Resigns to Join California Marriage Fight

The former chief marketing officer for Kmart, Bill Stewart, officially joined the Equality for All campaign to help defeat a proposed California constitutional amendment on the ballot this November that intends to ban same-sex marriage.

Stewart recently resigned from his executive position at Sears Holdings, Kmart's parent, where he earned a six-figure salary and had stock options and opportunities for bonuses. He has signed on to work as an unpaid volunteer with the Equality for All, a coalition of gay advocacy groups dedicated to defending same-sex marriage and defeating the marriage amendment in California.

About 50 groups are members of the coalition. Prominent members are the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, Equality California, the Human Rights Campaign, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, and the American Civil Liberties Union.

Stewart made the decision to change careers after attending a GLAAD national board meeting in Los Angeles in early June regarding the looming threat to same-sex marriage.

If voters approve the ballot measure, same-sex weddings would no longer be performed in California, and marriages that have already occurred might be voided. (The Advocate)

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Name: Cheryl Lynne Oropal
Date posted: 7/4/2008 2:20:00 AM
Hometown: Southbury, CT

Comment:
I'm a transgender woman and I already shop at southbury and in fact , the girls all know me there as , pardon me, " town tranni-girl ". for the most part, I find that the plus sized section most often has almoset whatever I like in clothes[ the only exception, since sears took over, I have had no luck finding my cute little denim mini- skirts ] so I do not mind seeing the guy's former place of employment mentioned . otherwise, I think what he did is awesome to the max! I'm consideing a move to the west coast area, resonably affordable CA near redding-yreka area, or maybe oregon; and so, hope that this passes!
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Name: Daphne
Date posted: 7/3/2008 3:08:00 PM
Hometown: CT

Comment:
Ani has a point. The fact that 'Kmart' was in the headline did pique my interest about the relationship between "it" and marriage equality, only to find 'Kmart' should never have been mentioned. Those of us fighting for equal rights would be much better off to examine behaviors independent of which side of the fence it comes from, and speak out against distortion and dishonesty where ever it surfaces. Equality goes both ways - same rights AND same responsibilities.
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Name: LAgaydad
Date posted: 7/3/2008 12:50:00 PM
Hometown: Los Angeles 'burbs

Comment:
I'd have to disagree with Ani from Houston...when reading the article, at no time did i ever assume that Kmart/Sears was supporting/non supporting gay marriage. This is an article about a human being (no sexuality label in the article either) who feels that gay marriage is so important to our community that he willing left a 6 figure income (with stock options) etc to work for free to our cause. Ani, my friend, get off the cross, we need the wood!
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Name: Ani
Date posted: 7/3/2008 10:10:00 AM
Hometown: Houston

Comment:
isn't it a bit irresponsible, journalistically speaking, to all but imply that Kmart is in full support of Same Sex Marriage just because the chief marketing officer is? Particularly by using the Kmart Logo for the story. Whether or not Kmart is in full support of these rights that needs to be made clear.
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Name: Jon
Date posted: 7/3/2008 9:05:00 AM
Hometown: Utah

Comment:
Well I will be shopping at Kmart when ever I can now.

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