Uh....Krogering

It 'aint a new dance move...

I grew up going to Kroger’s in Cincinnati. It is a grocery store. That place was great, because it would be open 24 hours. If we were drunk or stoned, no better place than to hang out until we sobered up. It was announced this week Kroger plans on adjusting their healthcare program to include transgender reassignment surgery.

This surprised me. Not because of the adjustment. But because it happened in Cincinnati, Ohio. See, growing up in this town in the 80’s we had very intolerant people. We’re talking Marge Schott. The bonkers owner of the Reds that claimed Hitler had a point. Cincinnati was a HUGE German town too. The place smelled like a brewery, though there was only one that existed. It is home of the largest Oktoberfest outside of Germany. We’re talking blue collar, beer drinking baseball lovin’ white America. We celebrated everything that was American. Red, white and blue everywhere. Also, said the Pledge of Allegiance to this country and all that. We also banned Mapplethorpe for obscenity. Not sure people remember that one. So we’re not seen as particularly progressive.

Let me backtrack a bit and tell you that Kroger, along with Proctor & Gamble were the backbone of Cincinnati. Kroger owns Ralph’s out here in Los Angeles. As well as a lot of other grocery chains throughout the country. They have an enormous reach. I was surprised to learn how much. As an American industry, it’s hard not to be behind them 100%. Considering Wal-Mart has basically gobbled up the rest of America. Kroger was  instrumental in keeping it American. And if you think about how quickly businesses open and closed, it’s even more startling how long this business has lasted. They even have their own brand of no frills goods that rival Wal-Mart’s Kirkland brand. I take great joy in buying up hometown goods. A nickel in the can, grass roots support, I reckon.

So, it is of some pride that they are the tip of the spear of being so open minded when it comes to something so brand new. The way that Cincinnati works, in terms of their liberal mindset is close to non-existent. So it is of note to say that this new change is pretty amazing. Although, it could be more beneficial, say to provide stock options, rather than the unconventional transgender optional surgery. This will, of course, be met with very strong conservative resistance. Considering we are still talking about people who still wave Dixie flags proudly. I’m sure the prevailing argument is that it will attract more unseemly characters to the city. Or…maybe bring it to a similar level as Portland. A town people make better by being better people.

I admire the chutzpah of my small city town. They recognize the new frontier, despite my own prejudices towards sexually confused gender ________(fill in blank). Who am I to argue with a successful business model?