It's All About the Money

Say what you will about Wal-Mart's business practices when it comes to employee pays and benefits, I can't help but think the only reason they joined the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) is simple economics. It all comes down to this simple fact, how much money can Wal-Mart make to boosts its profits and to keep shareholders happy?

Contrary to what Christian groups will have you think, Wal-Mart is only thinking about their bottom line. By being a member of the NGLCC, it helps them look more attractive to GLBT shoppers. It does not mean they wholeheartedly support the "gay agenda." For example, if Wal-Mart supported gay marriage, I feel that they would provide domestic partnership benefits.

I think instead of focusing on Wal-Marts attempt to lure more shoppers into its stores, Edwin Crayton should focus on other business practices of the retailer. He should be pressuring Wal-Mart to provide better pay and insurance for its employees. If he were to succeed at that, then fine, question and protest Wal-Mart's attempt to draw a particular segment of society into their stores.

Now when I say that Wal-Mart is only concerned about their bottom line, it all comes down to some simple research. When you look at the buying power among African-Americans and Hispanics it makes sense that they would target both groups. The buying power of Hispanics will be an estimated $863.1 billion by 2007. In the African-American community the estimate will be $847 billion. Who would want to pass up a potential customer base that holds $1.7 trillion in purchasing power. If I owned a business I sure as hell wouldn't.

When you factor in some work done by Witeck-Combs Communications and Harris Interactive, you can't help but come to the same conclusion I did. According to a Harris Interactive poll (pdf), the glbt community will have approximately $641 billion in purchasing power. Combine that with the buying power of African-Americans and Hispanics, it only makes sense that Wal-Mart would want to align themselves to be more attractive to glbt shoppers. None of this even takes into account the spending power of Asian-Americans or Native Americans.

Sadly these days it seems that the Christian Right is concerned more with making sure life is hell for gays. Instead of focusing on helping Wal-Mart employees get decent pay and insurance for the work they do, they would rather force a company to miss out on potential customers that would mean the retailer could provide better work conditions for employees while keeping prices low.

I wonder if the Christian Right would get up in arms if Wal-Mart joined the North American Muslim Chamber of Commerce?

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