Alicia reports Macy's in Downtown Crossing is already decked out for Christmas; photographs a worker bring lots more balls up the escalator.

Macy's is a huge company. Surely, somebody in its IT department would know how to do a database select that excludes people with Massachusetts Zip codes when they send out an e-mail ad for this garish, hideous thing, this awful glass chunk that you can see after the jump. So the only conclusion one can reach upon learning that Macy's actually e-mailed an offer to residents of Massachusetts this morning to buy this, this thing is that Macy's hates New England (at least, past Stanford). Or as Pomsmith, who forwarded it, writes: "Filene's and Jordan's are turning in their graves."

OK, are you ready?

Steve Garfield explains why; starts with a phone call from "Mr. Johnson" in India.

When Macy's pulled the Pride mannequins from its Downtown Crossing store, Sandouri Dean Bey wrote the store to cancel his charge account in protest. He's just gotten a letter from Macy's that basically says homophobes are people, too:

... Unfortunately, while many people share your views about the content of the window display, many others do not. They too, are our customers. I hope you can appreciate our position on this subject, even though it may differ from your own. ...

The very pregnant Christonicle goes into the Macy's shoe department to get some shoes. A salesman gets her a pair, drops them at her feet, then leaves to go chat with co-workers.

Note to Macy's shoe salesmen: Ready to pop pregnant women can't easily bend down to pick up things.

In Newsweekly reports:

Macy's East Chairman and CEO said that Macy's made a "mistake - unquestionably" when employees removed mannequins from the gay pride display at its downtown Boston location last week.

"Am I regretful that Macy's made a mis-step in this instance? Yes," Ron Klein writes. ...

Via Jesse Kanson-Benanav.

Earlier:
Protesting Macy's decision to can the gay mannequins.

Jesse Kanson-Benanav photographs the protest over the pulled gay mannequins at the Downtown Crossing Macy's.

Earlier:
Protesting Macy's decision to can the gay mannequins.

Mark Snyder reports there will be a protest outside the Downtown Crossing Macy's on Sunday to demand the store apologize for removing those mannequins:

... We are calling on Macy's to admit they were wrong and apologize directly to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Community for their offensive removal of the queer pride Mannequins and life-saving web addresses. We do not want watered down public relations sound bites. We want a real apology and an admission of wrongdoing. While the removal of the mannequins was severely offensive, the removal and return of the AIDS Action Committee web url was a direct slap in the face to our community during the 25th anniversary of the discovery of AIDS. ...

10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Via Jesse Kanson-Benanav.

Earlier:
Protesting Macy's decision to can the gay mannequins.

Jesse Kanson-Benanav wants the mannequins back:

... Fact is, if Macy's is concerned with presenting window displays which won't alienate Massachusetts residents, they had better put those manequins back quick. Poll after poll has proven that Massachusetts residents support marriage equality. ...

MassEquality has an online protest-o-matic that lets you e-mail Macy's chairman without even having to think about what to say.

John Keith looks at the photo and says those aren't man-breasts, they're muscles:

... So, what is it you are afraid of? That your children will grow up ... and go to the gym??? ...

Domenico Bettinelli, however, says the mannequins exposed gays' depraved lifestyle:

... The happy image they want you to see are the two chinos-clad, normal-looking, professional guys with the white picket fence and two kids adopted from a Third World hellhole. What they don't want you to see is the bondage, self-mutilation, open sexual activity, bigotry, and outright rage that is very common.

Guess we'll be seeing a lot more of Jody at Target soon:

... I don't shop at Macy's. I shop at Filenes. Period. And you say "Customers have told us they want the fashion and affordable luxury they find in Macy's stores," Federated said in a statement." Ya, and? How was the question worded to those customers? Did you ask "Tell us, do you want the fashion and affordable luxury you find in Macy's, or do you want me to squeeze lemon juice in your eyes?" ...