NAMI StigmaBusters
September 6, 2002
NAMI StigmaBusters focus on changing public attitudes from fear and rejection to
understanding and support of persons with mental illnesses: by protesting media
that perpetuate pervasive public stigma and praising media that educate the
public about mental illnesses.
NAMI StigmaBuster Alerts reach more than 10,000 people around the world. Help us
by being our eyes and ears, and letting your voice be heard in response to each
month's calls for action.
Contact: smarch@nami.org
CONTENTS
• Honoring Nellie Bly
• More Stores Asked to Tune Out “Voices In My Head” T-Shirts
• “Straight-Jacket” Halloween Costume Protested
• Mall Chain Displays
**************************************
HONORING NELLIE BLY
On September 14, the U.S. Postal Service will issue a postage stamp, honoring
Nellie Bly, as one of four women pathfinding journalists in American History.
Bly (1864-1922) was born Elizabeth Jane Cochran in Cochrans Mills, PA and took
her pen name from a popular Stephen Foster song.
At 23 Bly moved to New York City to work for the crusading newspaper publisher
Joseph Pulitzer. From day one, she took risks of all sorts to get accurate,
first hand information. For her first assignment she feigned insanity in order
to be committed to the Women's Lunatic Asylum on Blackwells Island (now
Roosevelt Island) and to expose the poor treatment of patients. Her focus on
social issues helped open the journalism profession to women who wanted to write
“hard news” rather than be relegated to light features and society columns.
**************************************
MORE STORES
ASKED TO TUNE OUT “VOICES IN MY HEAD” T-SHIRT
Last month, we succeeded in persuading in Sears, Inc. to withdraw T-shirts from
its stores carrying the message: “You should hear the NAMES the VOICES in my
head are calling you.” The shirts perpetuated stigma through the intimation of
threats flowing from auditory hallucinations.
NAMI has now asked four other national department store chains to follow suit:
Wal- Mart, Kmart, Kohl’s, and Target. In addition to registering complaints with
local store managers, please contact the following:
Mr. H. Lee Scott
President & CEO
Wal-Mart Stores
702 S.W. 8th Street Street
Bentenville, AR 72716
Wal-Mart Customer Service: 1-800-966-6546
James B. Adamson, CEO/Chairman
Kmart Corp.
3100 West Big Beaver Road
Troy, Michigan 48084
(248) 463-1000
FAX (248) 637-6611
1-866-245-6278
Mr. Larry Montgomery CEO
Kohl’s Department Stores Inc.
N54W 13901 Woodale Drive
Menomonee Falls Wisconsin 53051
Customer Service 1-866-877-8884
FAX 262-703-6796
Mr. Robert Ulrich, Chairman/CEO
Target Corp
1000 Nicollet Mall
Minneapolis MN 55403
(612) 370-6948 or 6627
FAX (612) 696-5226
**************************************
HALLOWEEN COSTUME RENAMED
“STRAIGHT JACKET”
As if the Smith & Wollensky Restaurant ads from this summer weren’t bad enough
(for which an apology has yet to be received). Haven’t people learned how cruel
and tortuous a symbol straightjackets actually are to people with mental
illnesses and their families?
Last year, NAMI protested a Halloween costume called “Mental Patient” sold in
many stores and produced by Disguise, Inc., an international enterprise
considered the world’s largest costume company. The costume included a canvas
straight jacket with straps and a “Hannibal Lecter” style facemask.
Benoit Pousset, president of Disguise, answered NAMI’s 2001 protest by declaring
that the company’s intent was not to harm anyone in anyway, but only to
“increase the fun of Halloween, an increasingly popular holiday in the United
States.” He promised to take our concerns “under advisement.”
Unfortunately, Disguise still doesn’t get it. This year, they merely changed the
name of the costume to “Straight Jacket.” When contacted last week by NAMI,
Pousset’s representative accused StigmaBusters of trying to censor them.
Whether called a rose or a cactus, the costume still has thorns. StigmaBusters
are asked to contact Mr. Pousset and all store managers where the costume is
sold. Tell them that it is profoundly offensive—and such images never would be
tolerated involving a cancer or AIDS patient. In fact, the company and any store
that sells the costume may risk liability under antidiscrimination law.
Mr. Benoit Pousset, President
Disguise, Inc.
11906 Tech Center Ct.
Poway, CA 92064
Phone: (858) 391-3600
FAX: (858) 39l-3601
Web-site: www.disguise.com
**************************************
MALL CHAIN DISPLAYS
“Spirit Halloween” Superstores are run seasonally by Spencer Gifts and owned by
Universal Studios, which earlier this year distributed the movie, “A Beautiful
Mind.”
We therefore were disappointed to learn recently that one of the stores in
Fredrick, Maryland featured a large cardboard display figure in gray sweats
looking frightening with large teeth, with the label “Mental Patient” across his
chest, leering out of a window.
We contacted Spirit Halloween Superstore headquarters, which fortunately
explained that each store does its own window dressing. They quickly promised
that the display in Frederick would be changed. If you sight anything similar in
your local mall, complain to the manager, but also let us know, with the name of
the store, mall, city and state. We may be able to help.
**************************************
We appreciate your reports and your help. Remember, Mental Illness Awareness
Week is October 6-12, 2002.
Stella March, Coordinator
NAMI StigmaBusters
Last Updated on
04/14/04
webmaster@namiscc.org
