Moar Rantseseses

[wook77]

As a follow-up to this set of letters -

Dear Law Enforcement, Radio Decency People, Radio personalities and, specifically, the management at KRXQ,

Just so I understand how this works, a white supremecist shock jock says violent things directed at politicians and he gets criminal charges but Rob and Arnie say violent things directed at transgendered/gender-questioning children, and it's just lulz? They're shock jocks and equal opportunity offenders?

Huh. I still don't get it.

In conclusion, FUCK YOU.
me

Dear Snapple, Sonic and Chipotle (now with added Nissan, AT&T, Verizona, Wells Fargo, Bank of America, and McDonalds,

Thanks for being awesome. I had Chipotle at lunch today, bought some Diet Dr. Pepper at Circle K on the way back and am planning on Sonic for lunch tomorrow. I appreciate your willingness to pull your advertising from a popular radio program in light of such hate speech. It takes a lot to make such a stand in this tough market so I appreciate your willingness to do so.

<3,
me


UPDATED WITH NEW ADVERTISERS!

CARLS'S JR. (CKE RESTAURANTS): (Hardee's on the East Coast)
Removed due to response. See ETA 2!

HOME DEPOT
public_relations@homedepot.com

TOBACCO REPUBLIC:
trcigar@aol.com

FLEX YOUR POWER
enewswire@fypower.org Editor
info@fypower.org

NISSAN:
Darryl Harrison - Media
Removed due to response. See ETA 4

BANK OF AMERICA:
Removed due to rapid response. See below!

VERIZON:
Removed due to response. See ETA 3!

McDONALDS:
Removed due to response. See ETA 5

WELLS FARGO:
Removed due to response. Seems the KRXQ website didn't keep their list of corporate advertisers current. I'm sure you're quite shocked, too. See ETA 3

GRIFFIN & REED EYECARE:
info@LASIKworld.com

PRO CITY MORTGAGE:
procity@procitymortgage.com

SUPERVALU INC. (Albertson's)
Investors and Financial Media:
David Oliver, 952-828-4540
david.m.oliver@supervalu.com
or
Steve Bloomquist, 952-828-4144
steve.j.bloomquist@supervalu.com

NEW:
Cost U Less Insurance
online contact form
There are three offices in Sacramento:

Sacramento
2870 Fulton Avenue
(916) 485-5427
Sacramento
7213 Florin Mall Drive Suite A
(916) 427-1222
Sacramento
6315 Mack Road
(916) 689-1414

If someone gets an email address, please let me know.

Cache Creek Casino
888.77.cache
They do not have an email address on record. However, in looking at linkedin, I found the following:
Mike Leonard, VP of Marketing so I'm adding him. Unfortunately, you have to take the step of going to linkedin to get to email him. If someone gets his email address, I will add it to the list.
>

As always, no need to ask permission to link to this or repost the list of advertisers for your own usage on spreading the word.



Dear advertiser on the Rob, Arnie and Dawn Show on KXRQ Sacramento/Reno,

I'm not certain that you are aware that your brand is now associated with a group of people that feel that it is completely acceptable to incite violence towards at-risk children. The May 28th segment of the Rob, Arnie and Dawn Show on KXRQ Sacramento/Reno contained a half an hour diatribe against children already experiencing more than enough anguish. Some of the offensive quotations include:

If my son, God forbid, if my son put on a pair of high heels, I would probably hit him with one of my shoes. I would throw a shoe at him. Because you know what? Boys don't wear high heels. And in my house, they definitely don't wear high heels.

You know, my favorite part about hearing these stories about the kids in high school, who the entire high school caters around, lets the boy wear the dress. I look forward to when they go out into society and society beats them down. And they end up in therapy.

Did you know that 9 out of 10 transgender/gender questioning children will face abuse (whether physical, mental or verbal)? Were you aware that, in 2008 alone, that "society beat down" transgendered people by murdering 21 people simply because they were trangendered? Society threatens to beat down transgendered people by a 1 in 12 chance of being murdered. That is society's reaction and this sort of hate speech not only condones it, it encourages this level of extreme violence.

In their follow-up to the diatribe, Arnie and Rob made no apology for their hate speech. Instead, they attempted to sweep it under the rug and portray their words as "funny" while portraying those that are rightfully upset at such hate speech as having no sense of humor.

Your brand, at least in my mind, is now tied to this sort of vitriolic diatribe directed towards children due to your continued advertising on this station.

I respectfully ask, at this time, that you remove all advertising from this station and follow in the footsteps of such companies as Snapple, Chipotle and Sonic. These three companies have already shown their willingness to protect at-risk youth and stand up against violence and hate speech.

I understand that this is a tough economy and that pulling your advertising from such a successful radio station can harm your bottom line. But you must understand that I have to choose where to spend my money. I refuse to spend it somewhere that thinks vitriolic diatribes against at-risk children are acceptable.

I appreciate your time,
[wook]

Dear Flist,

You know, we write a ton of kinks. Genderbend is all over quite a few fandoms. Can we all please take a few minutes to send a few emails to these advertisers?

I bcc'd each of them and then wrote the above letter. You are more than welcome to c/p the letter and the bcc distribution list.

Here:

procity@procitymortgage.com, info@LASIKworld.com, heidi.barker@us.mcd.com, theresa.riley@us.mcd.com, enewswire@fypower.org, info@fypower.org, trcigar@aol.com, public_relations@homedepot.com, david.m.oliver@supervalu.com, steve.j.bloomquist@supervalu.com, Dawn.fones.cv9s@statefarm.com, dbouffard@jewels.com, dale@sleeptrain.com, kschopp@purina.com, Keoni.Wagner@hawaiianair.com, pdugan@mcneilwilson.com, mediarelations@pepboys.com

Send an email and let people know that this sort of hate speech isn't allowed. Please?

<3,
me

ETA: HOMG GUYS! Bank of America just pulled their advertising! We're doing it! I'm now in tears of happiness. You guys! This is AWESOME.
In response to your inquiry, I would like to express our thoughts to you regarding Bank of America’s decision to discontinue advertising on the station and show in question.

Bank of America is proud to be a leader in supporting diversity and continues to be widely recognized for our progressive workplace practices and initiatives to promote inclusion. This commitment to equality and diversity informs every aspect of our enterprise, including our approach to advertising. As a result, we adhere to a set of media buying guidelines for syndicated programming and for local stations that promote inclusion and help our company reach a broad range of diverse customers.

Bank of America prides itself on fostering a corporate culture that is inclusive of all the communities we serve. Our customers, clients and associates speak different languages; support different family structures and life situations; and have unique and personal financial requirements. In order to meet the diverse needs of our customers, we require a variety of products and services, marketing and a diverse workforce that demonstrate and reflect our awareness and appreciation of who our clients and customers are.

We hope the immediate actions that we have taken demonstrate our longstanding support of diversity, and we hope you inform members of your organization of the steps that we have taken to address your concerns.

Thank you for your inquiry and bringing this to our attention.

Joseph L. Goode, SVP
Global Media Relations
Bank of America

ETA2: Two things in this ETA. 1) looks like Albertson's Grocery store is not the Albertson's formerly listed as an advertiser (link). So, I'm removing them from the distribution list. ETA2.5: New Albertson's Contact information has been added to the distribution list.

Secondly - It looks like Carl's Jr/Hardee's has pulled their advertising from KXRQ. Folks. This ROCKS!

Dear Concerned Reader,

Thank you for your email. We have pulled all of our ads from KXRQ. We did this as soon as the matter was brought to our attention.

We appreciate your concern and thank you for contacting CKE Restaurants on this matter.

Regards,

CKE, Public Relations

ETA3: Verizon pulls advertising! w00t!

ETA4: Nissan and Wells Fargo are out as well. That's eight companies. Just a few more to go. And any new ones they find to replace the ones that have pulled out.

As a personal aside - keep the updates and the links coming but I'll be at work where I will have no ability to update this post. So any ETAs will come when I get back from my second job.

ETA5: McDonald's and AT&T are out Plus new contact information for Albertson's.

SUPERVALU INC.
Investors and Financial Media:
David Oliver, 952-828-4540
david.m.oliver@supervalu.com
or
Steve Bloomquist, 952-828-4144
steve.j.bloomquist@supervalu.com

I have edited these into the distribution list and also above with the contact information.

GLAAD has also asked That we continue to contact the station with our concerns. Let's remember to keep it polite and we'll get heard better. I'd rather they realize that intelligent people don't think this is acceptable. That it's not just a stark-raving mad (and I mean that in the pissed off sort of way) mob coming after them.

Contact Information
John Geary
Vice President & General Manager
KRXQ-FM
(916) 339-4209
jgeary@entercom.com

Arnie States
On Air Personality
KRXQ-FM
(916) 334-7777
rad@robarnieanddawn.com

Rob Williams
On Air Personality
KRXQ-FM
(916) 334-7777
rwilliams@entercom.com

BCC list for the show:

imfox@krxq.com, jgeary@entercom.com, kwong@entercom.com, dfield@entercom.com, jboyle@entercom.com, patmartin@krxq.com, jfield@entercom.com, sfisher@entercom.com, wkramer@entercom.com, nmccormack@entercom.com, bpasha@entercom.com

ETA6?: I've had a request for the text of my letter to the radio station. Below the cut is what I sent

Dear Sir or Madam,

Although I'm not certain that you'll even read this letter as I'm certain you're being inundated with letters regarding the recent transphobic statements issued by Rob and Arnie, I wanted to tell you why these comments have me so upset.

It's not just the "joking" incitement of violence towards children that already face a 9 out of 10 risk of being abused. It's not just the "joking" incitement of violence towards a group of people that face the chances of 1 in 12 transgendered people getting murdered versus the rest of us at 1 in 18,500. It's not just the fact that these jokes are not funny.

It's the violent enforcement of rigid gender roles for our children. Far too often, children are told "boys don't cry" and "girls cook, they don't play ball". Children are teased and tormented when they don't fit into these narrow roles.

Lawrence King was shot in his school for not fitting into the narrow gender roles perpetuated and violently endorsed by Rob and Arnie.
http://www.newsweek.com/id/147790/page/1

Carl Joseph Walker hung himself from a bannister in his house after the sort of teasing and "joking" your radio station endorsed and blew off. The sort of bullying and "teasing" you continue to support directly led to this young man hanging himself.
http://www.bvblackspin.com/2009/04/12/anti-gay-bullying-drives-11-year-old-to-suicide/

These are just two recent examples. The unfortunate thing is that in 2008 alone, 21 transgendered people were murdered because they were transgendered. Their only crime was being transgendered.

Words have power. Words from popular radio personalities have a lot more power than the teasing and tormenting (verbal torture, as some experts put it) than that of fellow students.

When you say these sorts of things, when you endorse this sort of action, when you make it into a joke, it demeans the daily struggle that all children (and adults) go through. Boys can like ballet and girls can like baseball. Neither one makes any of them gay or even gender questioning. When your radio stations reacts violently and negatively (whether with words or action), you are attempting to take us back into a world where women had no power and were chattel.

Your words contain so much misogyny that it's appalling. The fact is that the act of playacting is not and should never be anything that deserves such vitriolic statements.

I truly hope that you think about the words and the meaning behind the words. I hope you look at what you are condoning and endorsing because the sentiment and tacit endorsement of such violent reactions towards those that might not fit the rigid and narrow gender roles of the past can only lead to more Carl Joseph Walkers.

Respectfully,
[wook]

From the most recent update on the GLAADblog:

The pressure seems to have caused a stir at the radio station. Today at 5:28pm EST, we received an email from the General Manager promising a phone call this Monday with a possible resolution.

Me: Amazing what losing 10 corporate sponsors will do to a radio station. Suddenly they're not so funny, huh?

Also - when I wake in the morning, I will add a list of the people that have removed their advertising from this station so we can send off thank you letters, as well. I'll also respond to comments. Right now, though, I'm knackered after working 19 hours straight. I hope you all understand. Go forth and eat burritos and Sonic and Carl's Jr/Hardees. Keep your Verizon and your AT&T cell phones.

You guys are seriously the best thing ever.

ETA6: So I've had requests for a new distribution list.

The only new emails I've been able to find are for the Albertson's people. I will update this list, as well, if anyone can track down email addresses for the two new corporate sponsors/advertisers.

david.m.oliver@supervalu.com, steve.j.bloomquist@supervalu.com, Dawn.fones.cv9s@statefarm.com, dbouffard@jewels.com, dale@sleeptrain.com, kschopp@purina.com, Keoni.Wagner@hawaiianair.com, pdugan@mcneilwilson.com, mediarelations@pepboys.com

Updated! Thanks to stitchesandlace for finding all this for me!

Also - I've had a request for a list of whom to send thank you notes to. Below is the distribution list that I've put together (will be updated should anyone new be added):

corpcsf@wellsfargo.com, heidi.barker@us.mcd.com, Debra.Lewis@VerizonWireless.com, john.britton@att.com, joseph.l.goode@bankofamerica.com, Darryll.harrison@nissan-usa.com, pr@ckr.com, astrohm@barkleyus.com, mediarelations@chipotle.com

Please note that I cannot find an email address for Snapple. They do have a Contact Us form, however.

Finally (for this ETA) - Googlecache of the sponsors. Anyone finds an email address they'd like added to the distribution lists, let me know.

Red Bull - Still no working email address for them but I do now have a fax line (thanks morgandawn
RBNA Headquarters

1740 Stewart Street
90404 Santa Monica
+1 310 393-4647
+1 310 230-2361

Comments

[red_squared]

You are awesome for doing this.

Outrage certainly has its place, but steps on how to make things different/better is most welcome!

[wook77.livejournal.com]

Thanks. Between the Matthew Shepard's death is a hoax lady, the Prop 8 shit, the assassination of Tiller and now this, I'm in this constant state of rage. At least I can do something about this one, yanno?

I figure if we can all send out a few emails, we can really affect change. Hate speech should never be condoned. Child abuse should never be condoned. The fact that this is a combination of both of them and is being written off as lulz is just extremely upsetting to me.

<3

[reddwarfer.livejournal.com]

Done. I couldn't have said it better myself. This is the sort of behaviour that is inexcusable.

[wook77.livejournal.com]

Awesome! I love the power of communication and righteous outrage.

This is exactly the sort of behavior that should have people fired and/or brought up on charges. Who the fuck thinks this sort of shit is funny?

[kyuuketsukirui.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the list of emails all together.

[wook77.livejournal.com]

Anything to make it easier to communicate the outrage :D

[libgirl.livejournal.com]

Done and posted.

Thanks Wook. :D

[wook77.livejournal.com]

ILUSOOOOO MUCH!

<3

[ciel-vert.livejournal.com]

Thanks for putting this together. I will be linking, and then doing my own mass email, tomorrow when I'm on a proper computer.

[wook77.livejournal.com]

AWESOME! <3<3<3

My outrage has finally channeled into something productive!

[why-me-why-not.livejournal.com]

sent off an email, and c&p'd a bunch of stuff off this entry and your entry from yesterday to post on my LJ. (b/c I'm lazy and b/c you're far more articulate than I am)

[wook77.livejournal.com]

ILU!

Feel free to c/p away. The more we get the word out, the better it is. Though IDK about articulate considering that the vast majority of my reaction is summed up by "fuck you" all over the place.

[stitchesandlace.livejournal.com]

I didn't even know about this until right now, when you posted it - and trust me that I'm absolutely disgusted, and am sending off an e-mail to all of those addresses immediately. Was this more of a localy covered issue? Because I had no idea it happened and I think it would have gotten more widespread attention (especially from fandom) if otherwise. Hmmm.

[wook77.livejournal.com]

Awesome!

This was definitely on thehuffingtonpost which is where I heard about it. I've not seen it on cnn or anything, though I know it was on GLAAD but not on Human Rights Campaign.

I'm hopeful that fandom is going to become aware of it and be willing to at least fire off a few emails to the various sponsors. It's quite obvious from the reactions of the shock jocks and the management at the station that we're not going to get through to them no matter how well we put our concerns together. The only way we're going to get through to them is through the all mighty dollar.

[wasoncedelight.livejournal.com]

Got here via ciel_vert, have sent off a mass email, and I'll definitely be linking back here. Thank you for putting this together; I hadn't even heard anything about it until just now, which is just sad and wrong in so many ways.

[wook77.livejournal.com]

Awesome! Link away! I'm just glad that I'm finally able to channel my rage into something productive instead of just writing 'fuck you' over and over. Because really? That's just my main reaction right now.

I'm annoyed that it isn't everywhere too. This sort of shit just isn't acceptable. You don't incite violence towards any kid let alone a kid that's already at risk for bullying.

[maple-mahogany.livejournal.com]

Thanks for putting this together. You're a good egg. ♥

[wook77.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I'm trying not to just say 'fuck you' over and over. I'm working on that whole maturity thing. I think I might finally have got the hang of it *winks*

Ok, maybe not. *points to icon*

[rawkenr0ll.livejournal.com]

idk you but EMAILED

[wook77.livejournal.com]

Awesome! It's making a difference already cause bank of America totally just pulled their advertising!

[alwayseven.livejournal.com]

I'm here via wasoncedelight. Thank you for this post, I was unaware of what happened. Thank you also for the email addresses of the advertisers, I have sent an email.

[wook77.livejournal.com]

Awesome! I'm very glad that you're helping this! Bank of America just pulled their advertising!!!!

[rhombal.livejournal.com]

Here through a couple of people on my f-list. I know I should probably listen to the actual radio show to be more informed about the situation, but I don't think I can, based on my reactions to the article alone. I don't understand how horrible certain people can be. I'll be sending out an email and passing the word along.

[wook77.livejournal.com]

It's seriously horrible so I can see why you don't want to. I wish I could get it out of my head.

Thank you so much for sending out the letters! We're helping to make a difference cause bank of America has just pulled their advertising!!!!!

[quarterturn.livejournal.com]

I am completely appalled. E-mails have been sent; thank you so much for gathering all this information! I'll be posting this on my journal, too.

[wook77.livejournal.com]

Youre brilliant! And I really feel line we're helping to make a differnce cause bank of America just pulled their advertising!!!!

[blindmadness.livejournal.com]

Here via quarterturn. E-mails have been sent. Thanks for doing something about it; hopefully everyone will follow your example. ♥

[wook77.livejournal.com]

Awesome! I'm just glad we're helping to make a difference. Bank of America just pulled their advertising which is awesome!!!

[mwestbelle.livejournal.com]

Here from several flist members, thank you for compiling all this information! I've sent e-mails and will link to your post.

[wook77.livejournal.com]

This is the best sort of response! I appreciate that you're helping!

[tempore.livejournal.com]

Here via a flistie, and I've just sent my email to them. I'm also linking to this, thank you!

[wook77.livejournal.com]

Awesome! I've updated the lists and things so if you feel like checking back, there are now two lists (one is the original w/additions and one is the new additions)!

Thanks for spreading the word!

[lunar-scythe.livejournal.com]

emails sent, and linked from my lj, too. Also planning on doing a myspace bulletin.

(pst: Sacramento is spelled wrong in the c+p letter; I fixed it before I emailed it, but I wanted to let you know.)

[wook77.livejournal.com]

Oh man! Thanks for letting me know that *is embarrassed*

Also - I've updated the distribution lists with more sponsors, if you feel like sending another email or seven billion :D

[nomoreuturns.livejournal.com]

Here via rhombal. I sent out an e-mail a couple of minutes ago to all the advertisers. Linking to this in my LJ...I'm sure my flist will be interested in a way to help out.

Just wondering if it'd be a good idea to send an e-mail to GLAAD, asking for them to push for more than a half-assed "apology" from States and Williams. That they managed to get away with a "well, we're sorry you don't think it's funny, but whatever" is unbelievable. They deserve to be fired, or have criminal charges laid against them for promoting the use of violence and abuse in the cases of transgender children...preferably both.

[wook77.livejournal.com]

Awesome! Thanks so much for doing that! I've updated the list of sponsors, if you feel like sending out a few more.

IDK if you saw the update but GLAAD is definitely getting some motion from the station so I think, at this point, maybe we should see what happens on Monday. I'm personally hoping these fucktards are fired or are made to participate in something like Morgan Spurlock's 30 Days thign where they have to live 30 days as something they oppose.

[bagelmuffin-luv.livejournal.com]

Hello! Directed here from someone else's LJ.

I thank you so much for doing this. I am as well completely outraged! I don't usually like copy pasting, but your letter is so amazingly written that I will take it!

Bravo to you for this initiative and bravo to all who follow. I don't usually like following, but this is a matter THAT NEEDS to be addressed.

Thanks,
Alecki who is sending mails

[wook77.livejournal.com]

Awesome! I'm so glad you're willing to take action.

I've updated the distribution list if you feel like sending a few more emails!

[blindingsight.livejournal.com]

Here via several people. Thank you so much for compiling this list and for voicing your outrage. I have linked to your posts and have sent emails to everyone on this list. ♥

[wook77.livejournal.com]

Awesome! Just an fyi - I've updated the distribution lists with more sponsors, if you feel like sending a few more emails!

I'm so glad you're helping to take action!

[drinkingstars.livejournal.com]

UGH VERIZON >:(

brb emailing....adding in the line that BofA responded quickly and they should do the same.

[wook77.livejournal.com]

INORITE!? I felt the same about AT&T. They go a call from me where I informed them that I have been a customer for 14 years and they had better make this right.

I'm just glad they both did!

I've updated the distribution lists if you feel like sending a few more emails.

[rhombal.livejournal.com]

Re: Albertson's and SaveMart, I just had my sister send out an email as well and she got this response:

Thank you for message regarding the May 28 edition of the morning show
on Sacramento KRXQ radio.

Save Mart Supermarkets and its stores DO NOT advertise on KRXQ because
the station's demographics are not a match for our target market. We are
NOTaffiliated with the Albertsons listed on the station's advertisers
page; our Sacramento and Reno stores all operate under the Save Mart or
FoodMaxx banners. We also operate Lucky Supermarkets in the Greater Bay
Area and all these stores are owned by Save Mart Supermarkets
headquartered in Modesto, CA.

[sayingwhatiam.livejournal.com]

I got that e-mail response, too. I guess there's another Albertsons out there?

[hello-ilu.livejournal.com]

Here via rhombal. Emailing right now.

Thanks for the form letter and list of addresses!

[wook77.livejournal.com]

Awesome! I'm more than happy to help!

I've updated the distribution lists if you feel like sending a few more emails!

[sayingwhatiam.livejournal.com]

This is completely awful and makes me sick. I sent out the mass e-mail and will definitely be posting about this in my journal. Thanks for putting this all together.

[wook77.livejournal.com]

I'm just glad that were making a difference.

[secrethitmen.livejournal.com]

Here via hello_ilu. Thank you so much for doing this, and your letter is excellent: forceful but still polite.

[wook77.livejournal.com]

Thanks do much! I'm enjoying the response... It's awesome that ppl are responding so well.