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07/04/07-07/05/07

Kroger starts to carry gay pub again in Nashville stores

Kroger starts to carry gay pub again in Nashville stores

Kroger Co. announced Monday that a regional gay newspaper will once again be carried in the free publication rack inside some of its Nashville-area grocery stores, according to the Associated Press.

Kroger, the nation’s largest food chain, removed the Out & About monthly newspaper from 34 stores in the Nashville area nearly a month ago, claiming that the paper violated company policy against distributing publications that promote "political, religious, or other specific agendas."

The paper’s expulsion caused outrage among the city’s gays and lesbians. Supporters of the paper said Kroger carries other gay-themed newspapers at its stores in other markets, such as Atlanta. They also pointed out that other newspapers with political columns and advertisements for Nashville-area strip clubs were available in the stores.

The uproar culminated last month into a weeklong boycott against Kroger and Harris Teeter, another grocery store chain that banned the newspaper. Organizers say the local boycott cost the two companies more than $15,000.

In a news release Monday, Kroger blamed Out & About’s removal on DistribuTech, the company that manages its free publication racks. Kroger said that DistribuTech did not follow Kroger’s process for distributing free publications with Out & About.

“As we have done elsewhere, Kroger suspended distribution until the agreed-upon steps were followed. In this case, it resulted in the return of the paper to some stores in the Nashville area,” the release explained.

Jerry Jones, publisher of Out & About, told AP that Kroger officials met with Nashville gay and lesbian activists.

“They reviewed the paper and met with community leaders and realized that we publish a true newspaper for our community. It wasn't a political or religious agenda,” Jones said.

Jones said he was happy with the company's decision to allow the newspaper back into eight stores where the paper has a high readership.

Lynn Marmer, Kroger's group vice president of corporate affairs, highlighted in the release Kroger’s acceptance and knowledge of Nashville’s diverse population.

“Having free special interest publications, for example for seniors, families with young children, or the GLBT community, is a way of serving local interests,” Marmer said. (The Advocate)

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