Wal-Mart Avoids Boycott by Changing Giving Policy

After adjusting its charitable giving policy in response to concerns raised about its support of gay and lesbian causes, Wal-Mart has received both praise and criticism, reports the Associated Press.

Wal-Mart announced that its support to gay-rights groups would no longer be unrestricted but would go toward certain causes, such as efforts to promote equality in the workplace. The American Family Association, a conservative group that called for its supporters to boycott the chain store this weekend—typically the year’s busiest shopping days—dropped its plans to protest and expressed satisfaction with the outcome.

The Human Rights Campaign, a liberal group, also said it was happy with Wal-Mart’s decision. “I don’t see it as backpedaling by Wal-Mart,” said Joe Solmonese of the Human Rights Campaign.

But officials of an effort known as WakeUpWalMart.com said that the company’s statement was “a confusing contortion of words that make it completely unclear whether Wal-Mart still supports equal rights for the (gay and lesbian) community or not.”

Some conservative groups had seen Wal-Mart’s donations to gay-rights groups as endorsements of gay marriage and anathema to its more conservative history.