(AgapePress) - The American Family Association (AFA) is expressing disappointment and concern over a pro-homosexual seminar being held on Friday at Wal-Mart's headquarters in Arkansas.

AFA spokesman Randy Sharp says his organization has obtained a copy of a Wal-Mart staff memo inviting home office associates to a seminar on December 16 entitled "Why Market to Gay America?" The memo, dated December 8, notes that America's homosexual community has $610 billion in purchasing power, and that the seminar -- sponsored by Wal-Mart's Office of Diversity -- will "provide insight into the purchasing decisions of GLBT [gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender] customers."

Sharp says Wal-Mart has long been seen as a shopping place that supports family values. But now, he says, that image is in question.

"Basically what they're doing is they're giving their stamp of approval on homosexuality, recognizing it as a facet in America that deserves their support and their encouragement," he says. "And they want their business."

Sharp is calling on family advocates to contact Wal-Mart headquarters at 1-800-WALMART and make their concerns known about Friday's pro-homosexual seminar.

Seminar Led by Activist
The person presenting the Wal-Mart seminar likely will be able to help the massive retailer achieve its goal. According to the memo from Wal-Mart's Corporate Communications office, the guest speaker at the seminar will be the co-founder of a public relations and marketing firm that specializes in the "gay and lesbian" markets. In addition to his marketing work, Wesley Combs of Washington, DC-based Witeck-Combs Communications is involved in pro-homosexual activism.

According to the Witeck-Combs website, Combs serves on a council for the Human Rights Campaign -- the nation’s largest lobbying group for homosexuals -- and on the advisory board of the Gender Public Advocacy Coalition (GenderPAC), a group that claims to work to end "discrimination and violence caused by gender stereotypes."

Earlier Indication
According to AFA Journal, Wal-Mart appears to be caving in to the pleas of homosexual activists, as evident from an internal memo issued in April, noting the approval of a "gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender" (GLBT) group within the corporation.

GLBT Associates is one of seven Associate Resource Groups, also referred to as Affinity or Network Groups, recently approved by Wal-Mart as part of a new program. The purpose of the new effort is to "enhance our ability to attract, retain and develop female, minority and representative talent in the Home Office," the memo stated.

In addition, it said that these are "groups of associates with common interests or backgrounds who wish to contribute to each other's professional development, foster a sense of community, and enhance their individual and collective abilities to contribute to Wal-Mart's business mission."

But AFA chairman Don Wildmon sees it this way. "Based on the memo, Wal-Mart is recognizing homosexuality as equal to race and national origin," Wildmon stated in April, adding that in his opinion "it is only a matter of time before this group demands same-sex partner health benefits, 'pride parades,' and diversity workshops."

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