Wed. December 28, 2011
Christian cartoonist Joe King has created a highly-offensive and homophobic calendar that has become especially problematic for LGBT advocates because it's being sold by both Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
The illustrated calendar called, I'm Not Gay, I'm Just A Sissy," includes twelve cartoons that employ outdated stereotypes of gay men.
The month of February shows a gay man caring a sign that reads, "We all have AIDS."
King defended his calendar on Facebook where he posted insensitive comments about HIV/AIDS, calling the disease "elective."
DailyKos.com spoke with representatives from both Amazon and Barnes & Noble. The Amazon representative acknowledged the calendar was "highly offensive," yet noted that it takes a "lot of customer feedback" to pull an item.
GLAAD has reached out to both companies, but encourages individuals and organizations to let Amazon and Barnes & Noble know that selling the calendar in their stores is unacceptable.
King decries censorship from the LGBT community and says he has the right to free speech.
"Hell hath no fury like a he/she scorned... The telephone tree of tantrums is lit up like a Las Vegas marquee for Boy-Lesque," King wrote on Facebook. "Let's see if I get a call from Oprah's people or even Anderson Cooper."
Amazon
Phone: 1-800-201-7575
Twitter: @Amazon
Facebook: Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Phone: 1-800-THE-BOOK (1-800-843-2665)
Twitter: @BN_care
Facebook: barnesandnoble
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