July 7, 2008
Rite-Aid Denies Gay P.D.A. Ban
Queerty has it that a Rite-Aid on Sixth Avenue and 13th Street posted this anti-gay P.D.A. sign in their store over the weekend. If true, it doesn’t seem like the smartest way to win over the Greenwich Village/Chelsea clientele. But employee Kularee Kamhal, who worked there all weekend, swears “it’s a lie.” There is no manager or employee named Tom Marquez; according to her the store’s manager is one Jose Santos. Something doesn’t add up here; maybe this is all just a desperate attempt at sabotage from a rival Duane Reade?
In DC, a Rite-Aid manager reportedly ousted a hugging same-sex couple from a store; a hug-in was held a week later.
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obviously it's a lie, because if it was real it would likely say nothing about marriages.
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Why would anyone - straight or gay - feel compelled to kiss or grope in a freaking Rite-Aid drug store?
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Note that the tape is on the front of the sign, which means that it was taped from the outside. If the store manager were going to post this sign he'd surely tape it from the inside.
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thefacts, i agree. i think there should be a general memorandum issued against PDA in general. seriously, the worst is when people (straight or otherwise) are playing tonsil hockey in a bar. ew ew ew. only really acceptable if you are 15.
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nothing like a little hate crime for a monday am!
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I highly doubt this was done by someone at a rival Duane Reade store. I've never been to a Duane Reade where an employee showed any kind of initiative.
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#2... don't knock it 'till you tried it. :>)
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#7, most people who hate on PDAs are people who aren't getting any.
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Like everything this is all relative. People are disgusted with PDA's because the people usually doing it aren't attractive. If you got two supermodels going at it I'm sure the only objections you would get would be from feminazi hags.
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"Why would anyone - straight or gay - feel compelled to kiss or grope in a freaking Rite-Aid drug store?"
The problem is that what constitutes a public display of affection is often very different for homosexual couples as compared to heterosexual couples. If a gay couple is holding hands, or if perhaps one has his arm around the other this may make some (the conservative elderly, fearful, or narrow minded) people feel extremely uncomfortable and be deemed an unacceptable PDA. If a straight couple acts the same way very few people notice.
I think making out in public is crass (unless drunk in a bar...) but I also believe that straight couples can get away with a hell of a lot more than gay couples.
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what kind of tape is that with the fibers?
sort of looks like medical tape, they are near St. Vincent's Hospital.
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If this sign was posted at Duane Reade, it would simply state "We despise all our customers equally, gay or straight." They're far more open minded that way.
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This guy is in the wrong hood if the thinks his sign will change peoples behavior.
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Doesn't Rite - Aid use a hyphen in all of thier official signage/ logos? This may be one indication that some one outside the store did, in fact, post it.
In either case, by not allowing any PDA's thier condom sales will take a plunge.
I mean, who doesn't like to get all hot n' bothered in the Rite - Aid and buy up all the condoms in a total frenzy?
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My scenario - some misguided employee makes the mistake of bitching out a gay couple in the store. Propaganda-savvy couple or their friends make this fake notice. Store now has to bend over backwards to deny that this is their policy.
Either that or somebody just needs to get fired.
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bklynd,
Agreed. I had the same story in my head.
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It definitely wasn't written by someone at the Rite Aid. Have you ever seen some of their store made signs? Poorly spelled, incomprehensible grammar. No, this was done by a person with an education.
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That is dry wall patching tape. Its likely a construction worker working in the area since Rite Aid sells every other kind of tape but that one.
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Besides, Management is spelled wrong...
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Actually, I'm uncomfortable even when straight couples get all lovey-dovey in public. Get a room, you two! I don't discriminate because of orientation.
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Babyhitler,
People are also disgusted with the improper use of the apostrophe.
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I second #8. You all are a buncha squares.
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This is F***KING ridiculous!!! Two guys were kick out of a rite aid in DC not to long ago for holding hands (see below). I haven't gone back to a rite aid since. What a great company... Huh? I hope that no one bought anything at the "Hug-In". Whatever happen to not discriminating or does that just stop at race for most cro-magnon people?
http://www.metroweekly.com/gauge/?ak=3045
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I got some bengay from there before ... =)
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Rather...
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Now that you mention it, the last time I was there I was getting some davegay.
Jack
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If Rite-Aid were smart, they'd have row upon row of bongs, dildos, leather face masks and fetish gear for their kinky, soon-to-be elderly Baby Boomer clientele. Most Boomers I know are far more sexually freewheeling than the twenty nothings that pose and preen, then go home and hug their plush doll.