And in other news, Wal-Mart continues to suck
Wal-Mart CEO Backed Gay Adoption Ban
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By Julie Bolcer
The new CEO of Wal-Mart was among those who signed a petition to place an initiative on the Arkansas ballot last November to ban adoption and foster parenting by gay couples, reports the group KnowThyNeighbor.org.
A signature from Mike Duke, with an address that matches the known residence and birth date of the Wal-Mart head, was verified by the state and counted to place Act 1 on the ballot. The initiative, which passed with 57% approval among voters, makes it illegal for unmarried cohabitating couples -- gay or straight -- to adopt or foster children.
Opponents of Act 1 charged that the true intent behind the measure was to limit the family rights of same-sex couples. The proposal included straight couples to ensure its constitutional viability, given that a previous ban targeting only same-sex couples had been struck down.
Last week, KnowThyNeighbor.org posted online the names of more than 83,000 Arkansas residents who signed the petition to place Act 1 on the ballot. The public data, which was provided by the Arkansas secretary of state, can be found here.
Duke, 59, became the fourth CEO of Wal-Mart, the world’s largest retailer, in February. He has worked for the company since 1995, most recently being in charge of international operations. In January, Newsweek magazine ranked him number 26 on its list of the world’s 50 global elite.
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