[flv:http://witi.vid.trb.com/witi/video/2009/7/15/GAYPRIDE1/gaypride1.flv https://queerty-prodweb.s3.amazonaws.com/2009/07/milwapridebug.jpg 600 320]
The United States Postal Service gets a bad rap. Always the butt of “walked into work and shot everyone” jokes, plus they’re always hiking their fees while seemingly scraping on service, just breeding resentment from the country at large. But maybe one particular USPS branch deserves your bad energy? That would be the giant Main Milwaukee Post Office downtown, which yanked a gay pride display.
Milwaukee’s USPS spokeswoman Marge Oehlke says she removed the display because it wasn’t approved by the postmaster general, nor was it revenue-related; both criteria must be met for in-store displays, she claims. The GLBT pride display did feature an AIDS stamp, but it is no longer for sale.
Interestingly, Oehlke service on the post office’s diversity team. The USPS office contacted the Milwaukee Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Community Center to set up the display, but only four hours later on June 1 — when President Obama declared June gay pride month — took it down. And it’s not like there was anything controversial: Just a few quick pride tidbits, about gay tennis and baseball players, the rainbow flag, and some history briefs.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
But while the USPS location won’t house it, the display did find a home: in city hall.
Isn’t that just like the federal government: Eschewing the gays from their territory and having local communities deal with ’em.
[Video via Fox 6]
(Thanks, Dale!)
SteamPunk
“they’re always hiking their fees while seemingly scraping on service”
Do me a favor: Call a person you know very well. Tell them that you have a letter that can’t be emailed and you’d like them to take it across the country for you. Then tell them that you’ll give them 40-something odd cents to do so. Heck, be generous and offer them a couple of dollars, if you want to.
Let me know how they respond 🙂
Brian
Since they are not revenue-related, I’d like to be the first to request removal of all those trashy looking community bulletin boards then be removed from Post Offices around the country. Thank you.
D-Sun
What is the US Postal Service?
Alleyne
The post office is not an agency of the federal government.
petted
@Alleyne: Your not entirely correct about that – “The United States Post Office (U.S.P.O.) was created in Philadelphia under Benjamin Franklin on July 26, 1775 by decree of the Second Continental Congress. Based on the Postal Clause in Article One of the United States Constitution, empowering Congress “To establish post offices and post roads,” it became the Post Office Department (U.S.P.O.D.) in 1792. It was part of the Presidential cabinet and the Postmaster General was the last person in the United States presidential line of succession. In 1971, the department was reorganized as a quasi-independent agency of the federal government and acquired its present name. The Postmaster General is no longer in the presidential line of succession.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Postal_Service
petted
@SteamPunk: Dude economies of scale- though to be fair most business/organizations end up treating large numbers of people like dirt that hardly solely the province of the USPS.
Alex
@SteamPunk: Or any private company on earth.
@Alleyne: Yes, it is. As much as the CIA or the Selective Service Administration. It’s an independent agency, but it is still created, funded, and vested with power by the Federal government.
rick
if it aint making money it is a waste of space! she is right. total non issue, take it to the public library.
rick
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA HAS THE BEST AND THE CHEAPEST POSTAL SYSTEM IN THE WORLD! THE MAIL IS ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARE ACTUALLY GOOD AT.
rick
that display is taking up WAY too much room. it looks like it should be at the library.
Abbie
This Milwaukee P.O. deserves some credit for at least trying to have a Pride display. Does anyone have knowledge of any other post office doing this?
Now, let’s get to work lobbying for a Harvey Milk commemorative stamp!
galefan2004
No, that is not like the federal government at all. If that were the case DOMA wouldn’t be a law. The federal government wants to get involved when it comes to stripping us of our rights, but they want to stay out of the picture when it comes to giving us the rights we deserve.
dontblamemeivotedforhillary
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