Hallmark, our country's largest greeting card company, in case you didn't know, began printing "Coming Out" cards last year, and is now in the process rolling out same sex wedding cards. Did you catch that? SAME SEX WEDDING CARDS! Kudos to you, Hallmark!
The new cards will feature two tuxedos, overlapping hearts or intertwined flowers, with best wishes inside, and one that says "Two hearts. One promise". Elegant, simple, delightful.
I'll tell you, the vast majority of cards out there when you're shopping for a same sex couple, leave a LOT to be desired. And sure, the "gay book stores" always have their selection, but what about Mom and Dad, or even Grandma who want to send a card, and aren't even aware of such stores?
A spokesman says that the verbiage inside the cards will be vague, not eluding to gender or to "marriage" to make them universally acceptable for marriages, commitment ceremonies, or civil unions, whatever they can legally have, depending on where the happy couple lives.
Personally, I'd like to see Hallmark print a nice "Congratulations on your wedding day" with two brides holding hands on the cover, and one with two grooms. I'd also like to see them expand to the anniversary and Valentine's Day market as well. Each year, as our anniversary approaches, I am forced to shuffle through cards that say "for my wife" but have a picture of a man and a woman, or I find the card that says it just right, but then at the end, says I'm so happy to be your husband...UGH! Sure, if I call a cab, and spend the $80.00 round trip to go downtown to the gay book store, I can find some anniversary and Valentine's Day cards that are gender appropriate, but why do they have to cost $6.00? The same card, if it were male/female and stocked in the corner drug store, would be half the price. Now, I'm not saying Wifester isn't worth a $6.00 card, she is! It's just a matter of principal. Besides, I can think of way better things to spend that cab fair on. Especially now that Hallmark is rolling out some gay friendly cards. Oh, and by the way, American Greetings, Hallmark's biggest competitor, has chosen to stay far away from the same sex card niche. All the more reason for me to always check to see that it says Hallmark on the back!
So what do you say, Hallmark? Anniversary? Valentine's Day? Don't stop short of the goal...I'm available for design ideas if you're running short on talent over there ;)
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Good job to Hallmark for finally moving forward a bit. Hopefully they will expand on this in the near future.
I'm glad they're finally making some gay friendly cards. The prices are such a rip off though - greeting cards are ridiculously expensive.
Yay for Hallmark, BOOO for American Greetings.
I love that! I didn't know there were coming out cards. Are you they like "Congrats on your coming out!" or "Hey, here is a card to tell you I am coming out"? Either way the same sex wedding cards are so cool.
THAT would be a cool job.. designing cards for Hallmark!!!
Here's a thought for ya.....Way back in the early 70's when Lovee and I were really,really poor ..I would go to the stores and find a card I liked and actually write down on paper...or whatever I had at the time...:)...what the card said.Really! Then I'd go home and get out my colors and make him a card. I was afraid he would think it was too kid-like but he never did. To this day he likes my 'homemade' cards the best. Now I can get fancy and buy some construction paper...woo-hoo....
It's the little things that count.
things are changing, that's for sure, although I doubt if Barack will select con. Barney Frank as his running mate....
jay - I'm holding out hope for an expanded line too, maybe hallmark will hire a cynical bastard and a fortune cookie for their marketing team!
fiwa- greeting card prices are such a rip off, arent they? sheesh!
karen - you crack me up...the coming out cards are like congrats on coming out, there is a national coming out day, and they kind of target that.
mandy - wouldn't that be a sweeeeet ass job??
tt - oh i fully agree, i'm crafty and artsy myself, so i enjoy that sort of home project too, but for more formal occasions, such as weddings and big anniversary parites, for example, I had some acquaintances a few years back who celebrated a 30 year anniversary. Trying to find a card for two women who've shared 30 years together is difficult! And a home made one is probably not quite appropriate in that instance...So yay for Hallmark and here's to an expanded line...
gary -the one thing we can count on in this world is change.
HURRAY! The 21st century has apparently started in Kansas City.
Can we now work on getting them to stop making anniversary cards that say "To my Daughter and 'Son' on Your Anniversary"?
Not for nothin', but my husband has been part of the scene for 15 years. It's time for my parents to stop calling him their "son." I wonder if they use air quotes when we're not around?
I could have sworn I commented yesterday. Blogger must have eaten it, oh well.
Yeah Hallmark, just one more reason to keep sending the "very best".
I'm glad to see that Hallmark has come to their senses, and realize that love is special, no matter how it happens. Here's hope that they continue to grow more openminded.
Next time you need a greeting card, let me know -- I make them. And, I have plenty of craft stuff to personalize for any occasion. Drop me an email if you want to talk about it, or see some of my work.
patty - I never understood that either...I mean, really! Here's to cards that are more generationally appropriate.
reb- blogger must be hungry! :)
klee- thanks for the info! I'll keep that in mind.
Hopefully other companies will take their lead!