Wal-Mart: Selling SI Swimsuit and Maxim calendars

By: American Decency Staff

I received the following email from a friend of this ministry. She is expressing concern regarding Wal-Mart selling pornographic calendars. Personal note: Last year we expressed concern to our local Wal-Mart and in the process they did discontinue selling these calendars. At the time, it was placed right near the checkout. The images were extremely erotic.Here is the email referenced above. We urge you to read it and take action locally and by calling the toll free number as well. Dear American Decency Association: Below is an email I sent to friends and family yesterday regarding a situation I encountered over the weekend at Wal-Mart. Here are three comments I have received, thus far, from friends and family regarding this incident: >>I tried to call just now and the business office is closed so I'll try tomorrow. I love to hear when people w/morals and values stand up for what they believe in! I did forward it to some people w/out your address on it. Thanks. >>I also have seen the calendars, and I turn the rack every time I walk by so they aren't visible. I admire you for taking the next step by talking to the manager. Who did you speak to when you called 1-800-walmart? >>We have stopped shopping at Walmart for this and several other reasons. They will not get my money. I used to spend 250/week for groceries alone. They don't care, because they have so much of the market. … Thank you. BJT ——————————————————————— HER PERSONAL ACCOUNT My family and I were on our way out of Wal-Mart Saturday, November 3rd, 2007, when I saw the poXXographic calendars pictured below on a rack next to Spiderman and Precious Moments calendars. I was outraged so I took all of the poXXographic calendars to the front of the store and asked to talk to a manager. I told the manager, Gary Heddens, that the calendars are poXXography and should not be sold in a family store such as Wal-Mart. He said he doesn't have any control over the products in his store. I said, "I greatly object to my 10 year old daughter, and other children, being exposed to poXXography at Wal-Mart and I think that most people would." He said if I take my family to the beach or pool they would see that. I turned over the Maxim calendar so all 12 photos were shown and said, I would think you would recognize seductive photographs — I've never seen women posed like that at the beach or pool. He agreed that the women in "Maxim" would not be seen on a beach or at a pool, but said that women in bikinis, (i.e., Sports Illustrated) are at the beach. I said, "If a woman posed like that on the beach there would be mothers everywhere calling the police!" I asked the female Wal-Mart clerk standing nearby if she's ever seen women posed like that at the beach. She (cautiously) replied, "no." He said, "Personally, I don't agree with you." I said, "You don't have to agree with me, but I—customers—pay your salary so I would think that you would care about my opinion." He said that, for now, he will pull the calendars and suggested I call 1-800-Wal-Mart to voice my concerns. I hope that you will consider contacting Wal-Mart by phone (as I did when I got home from the store Saturday) and express your objection to this material being sold at Wal-Mart. Thank you. Call 1-800-Wal-Mart to voice your objection to this type of material being sold at Wal-Mart. *************************** American Decency Association Bill Johnson, President P.O. Box 202 Fremont, MI 49412 ph:231-924-4050 fax:231-924-1966

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