Macy's Joins Companies Leaving CVN because of Anti-Gay Donations - Apple Remains

Macy's joined a growing list of companies backing away from the "Christian Values Network" (CVN) after learning anti-gay groups like Focus on the Family and the Family Research Council are using CVN.org to raise money.

When asked why Macy's removed their store from CVN.org, a Macy's spokesperson told Change.org, "Macy's serves a diverse society.  As such, we are deeply committed to a philosophy of inclusion in the way we operate our business and support our communities," they said. "We welcome all customers into our stores."

Western Washington University Student and Apple Customers Ben Crowther is asking Apple to remove iTunes from the list of stores on CVN because CVN allows  anti-gay and anti-women organizations like Focus on the Family, and the Family Research Council to raise money on their site. Ben's Change.org petition has more than 5,000 signatures.

A growing list of companies are rejecting anti-gay hate by leaving CVN. Delta, Wells Fargo, BBC America, and Microsoft have all removed their ads from CVN.

Last week Wells Fargo told Change.org, "We requested the removal of this ad because it was not compliant with Wells Fargo’s brand and marketing standers."

On Wednesday, BBC pulled the BBC America Shop from CVN.

“BBC America Shop was not aware of CVN.org's current donation policies,” April Mulcair, BBC’s VP of Publicity, told UK Gay News in a statement. “We have ended our relationship with this affiliate effective immediately."

On July 7, Microsoft pulled their online store from the Christian Values Network after a Change.org petition started by Seattle resident and Microsoft customer Stuart Wilber highlighted several anti-gay groups raising money through the Christian Values Network.

The Focus on the Family website contains anti-gay and anti-transgender content. They describe being gay as “a particularly evil lie of Satan.“ They also attack transgender people.

Focus on the Family also lobbied against several pieces of Federal legislation that would add protections for gays and lesbians under the law. They lobbied to repeal the Hate Crimes Prevention Act, a bill designed to protect people from violent hate crimes based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. Focus on the Family also lobbied to stop the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” in an effort to prevent gay and lesbian service members from being open about their sexual orientation in the military. They also supported several bills that would make access to health care more difficult for women.

Dozens of major companies like Netflix, Target, Best Buy, USA Today, Walgreens, REI, and even Sesame Street participate in CVN’s service. When customers make purchases through CVN, a donation is made to the religious charity of the customer’s choice. For example, USA Today will donate $5.25 per subscription, and 2.5% of the purchase price for products bought through Apple iTunes store can be donated to groups like Focus on the Family and the Family Research Council.

The Family Research Council, formerly a part of Focus on the Family, has been identified as a known “hate group” by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC). Peter Sprigg, a chief researcher for the Family Research Council, advocated for the deportation and imprisonment of gays and lesbians, according to the SPLC.

“I wonder if Apple is even aware they are being used to raise money for these homophobic groups,” said Ben Crowther, the Apple customer who started the petition on Change.org. “It is so out of character for Apple to be associated with groups like Focus on the Family and the Family Research Council. I hope Apple acts quickly to remove their store from the Christian Values Network.”

Learn more about CVN.org and Ben Crowther's Campaign to remove the iTunes store from the "Christian Values Network" below:

http://news.change.org/stories/microsoft-wells-fargo-delta-leave-cvnorg-apple-asked-to-stop-funding-anti-gay-groups-via-cvn

Ben Crowther’s Change.org petition asking Apple to remove their store from CVN:
http://www.change.org/petitions/apple-stop-raising-money-for-anti-gay-hate-groups

List of more than 700 corporate online stores helping the Christian Values Network raise money:
http://frc.cvn.org/stores

Microsoft removes store from CVN following Stuart Wilber’s Change.org petition:
http://news.change.org/stories/microsoft-removes-store-from-christian-values-network-after-connection-to-anti-gay-groups-revealed

Southern Poverty Law Center on Focus on the Family and the Family Research Council:
http://www.splcenter.org/get-informed/intelligence-report/browse-all-issues/2010/winter/the-hard-liners

Focus on the Family and Family Research Council videos introducing the CVN’s Connection Plus Toobar:
http://www.youtube.com/user/ConnectionPlusGive#p/u/12/8AAtWUrlf_8
http://www.youtube.com/user/ConnectionPlusGive#p/u/20/1oxqUMvngjE

Videos featuring Stephen Baldwin and former Governor of Arkansas and presidential candidate Mike Huckabee on behalf of CVN:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBBxU9AO-5E
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ew9S7Ki7PXc