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Registry is 'heterosexist'
By Pratip Goswami
The concept of marriage has a broader meaning than it used to.
In the transformation of time and preferences, couples of the same sex have decided to sometimes engage in the ceremony of marriage.
Acceptance from society, big corporations and the heterosexist point of view, however, has not always been easy.
Companies like Target Corporation have designed their wedding registry, both in-store and online provisions, in such a way that couples of opposite sex can register for their wedding in the form of bride and groom. This excludes the opportunity of couples of the same sex to register.
In light of such an issue, a few SCSU students decided to make an action plan in pursuit of changing the way Target and other big firms are doing their wedding registry. The action plan is part of a human relations class.
Stacey Flanigan, one of the students in the group that made the action plan, expressed the idea of using the word "partners" instead of "couples" in the wedding registry format of Target.
The group of students made several phone calls, wrote a letter to Target's headquarters and expressed their opinion to their classmates.
The students' efforts started in the form of notices around campus, requesting fellow students to call Target and voice their opinions about changing the terms "bride" and "groom" to "partners" in the wedding registry.
When Flanigan contacted Target, she said the Target receptionist was polite and receptive to the complaint and records all the messages.
Flanigan also commented that when she spoke to Target, she was told that if more and more opinions are voiced over such an issue, there might be a change in the way the wedding registries are handled.
Flanigan also said that they are planning to bring more awareness on campus through posting notices and flyers about the issue next week.
Members of GBLT on campus are happy with the student's efforts of voicing their opinions against "heterosexist wedding registries."
When asked for an opinion on the action plan and efforts of the group, GLBT students said they were very optimistic about their efforts and feel that it is time that the big corporations think in a broader perspective of the matter.
A representative of Target expressed the constraints of the company on this matter: "We are a huge corporation and operate nationwide and to make changes is not an easy process. But voicing opinions about such a sensitive issue would definitely make a difference in changing the concept of 'couples' to 'partners,' if the corporate headquarters decide on doing so."
The Target representative encouraged more opinions because Target has received a large number of calls regarding the matter from all corners of the country. He added that if changes were to happen, it would only through the customers' opinions.
Those wishing to express their sentiments to Target Corporation may call 1-800-440-0680.
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