AFA tries to stop
Wal-Mart from selling Brokeback DVDs

The antigay American Family Association is at it again, this time threatening Wal-Mart for selling DVDs of Brokeback Mountain.

The AFA is rallying its followers to contact the big-box retailer and request that the Oscar-winning film not be stocked in stores. This latest AFA campaign, following on the heels of the group's continued boycott of Ford Motor Co. for advertising in gay publications, including The Advocate, is currently being shrugged off by Wal-Mart, which on Wednesday began selling DVDs of the gay love story throughout its 3,900 stores.

While not giving in to the AFA, Benton, Ark.-based Wal-Mart made no comment regarding its position on gay rights, telling the Los Angeles Times its decision to stock Brokeback is purely financial.

"The fact that we are offering the movie is not an endorsement of the content of the movie or any specific belief," said spokeswoman Jolanda Stewart. "We simply offer the latest titles that consumers want."

However, AFA special projects director Randy Sharp doesn't care what Wal-Mart's reasoning is. "[Wal-Mart] is trying to help normalize homosexuality in society," Sharp told the Times. "But how many copies are they going to have to sell to recruit [sic] the losses of customers who they've offended and will no longer shop at Wal-Mart?"

It's not clear how many people will be offended by the presence of Brokeback on Wal-Mart's shelves--the film grossed over $83 million domestically and another $83 million internationally. (The Advocate)