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The National GLBT Chamber of Commerce has sent a letter to a grocer where a gay publication was pulled from their shelves.

DistribuTech, the company that manages the free publication racks, has temporarily pulled the Out & About Newspaper from Kroger and Harris Teeter stores. Out & About is a publication that caters to the gay, lesbian, transgender and bisexual (GLBT) communities.

DistribuTech said they wouldn't approve publications that are controversial, religious or political.

The company handles the free publication racks at the stores.

Having the publication in the stores was expected to help boost the publication's circulation, according to an article in the May edition of Out & About.

"It is disappointing to see a company that is such a pillar of the local community play party to homophobia put forward by those on the fringe," from a letter sent from the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce to Kroger.

They feel a double standard is upsetting people in Middle Tennessee. The publication used to be available in to 34 Kroger stores in Middle Tennessee. Nashville representatives hope Kroger will eventually change their minds and restock the shelves.

Kroger did not respond to requests for an interview or a comment Tuesday by NewsChannel 5.

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Below is the letter the National GLBT Chamber of Commerce sent to Kroger's CEO

June 16, 2007

David B. Dillon
CEO
The Kroger Co.
1014 Vine Street
Cincinnati, OH 45202

Dear Mr. Dillon,

We are writing today on behalf of the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) to inform you that we are absolutely astonished by reports that Kroger has decided to pull issues of Out & AboutNewspaper from stores in middle-Tennessee. It is disappointing to see a company that is such a pillar of the local community play party to homophobia put forward by those on the fringe. Your action undermines Kroger’s position as a contributor to the local well being of the Nashville region.

With 45 affiliates in the United States (including the Nashville GLBT Chamber of Commerce), and nine internationally, the NGLCC is the largest LGBT economic advocacy and business development organization in the world. The NGLCC represents the interests of more than 800,000 LGBT businesses and entrepreneurs and is committed to forming a broad based coalition of LGBT owned and friendly businesses, professionals and students of business for the purpose of promoting the economic growth and prosperity of our members. 

We would welcome the opportunity to talk with you and your executive team to discuss ways in which we can help you correct this mistake immediately. Please contact our office directly at 202-419-0440 to schedule a conversation. We look forward to your timely response.

Regards,

Justin G. Nelson                                                  Chance Mitchell
Co-Founder and President                                Co-Founder and CEO 

CC:         John Wade, President, Nashville GLBT Chamber of Commerce
                Jerry Jones, Publisher, Out & About Newspaper