To Hallmark or not to Hallmark
If you follow this account I’m sure you’ve heard what’s been happening in the land of Hallmark and advertising over the past week or so. If not, it boils down to Hallmark flip-flopping on whether or not anti-LGBTQ+ bigots have a say in what they promote and produce.
#boycottHallmark and #boycottHallmarkChannel have been trending and GLAAD spoke out about Hallmark’s decision to pull ads featuring a lesbian couple’s wedding from the wedding planning site Zola.
Saturday Night Live had what I thought was a nice skewering in a Hallmark dating sketch, too.
This isn’t the first time Hallmark has been accused of homophobia, either. In 2013, Hallmark sold a holiday sweater ornament that read “Don we now out FUN apparel!” Here’s an excerpt from the L.A. Times of the company defending it’s decision:
...Hallmark pointed out that the lyrics for “Deck the Halls” were translated from the Gaelic way back when. So the “gay” of the 1800s isn’t the “gay” of 2013. Such “multiple meanings,” the company said in a statement, “could leave our intent open to misinterpretation.”
Yeah, wouldn’t want to come off as a decent and progressive company! I mean, sure, they have cards celebrating gay weddings and transitioning, but that’s just because they want our queer money, not because they want us to exist. It’s the same reason they reversed their decision to remove the commercials; they want our money.
It’s for these reasons this blog will no longer be reviewing Hallmark movies. I can’t, in good conscience, provide a platform for a company that despises my community and yet seeks to profit from them.
Luckily, Netflix and other streaming services have been stepping in to fill the giant representation gaps Hallmark has left in its wake and I will move my focus to those films and welcome the diversity shown alongside the kooky plotlines!
As always, please feel free to let me know if there are specific films you’d like me to review. Have a wonderful December, keep yourselves safe, and for goodness sake, don’t read comments!
And to Hallmark and One Million Moms: Go fuck yourselves!