10% Greeting Cards Recognize Gay Unions for Over 16 Years

As Prop. 8 is overturned in California, 10% continues providing cards celebrating lesbian and gay love.

Los Angeles, California - August 12, 2010 - 16 years ago in 1994, when many could not fathom the legalization of same-sex marriage in the United States, 10% offered its first gay union greeting cards just one year after the company's beginning. And even in its initial year of business, 10% offered many anniversary and love cards for lesbian and gay couples. Today, as the federal judge ruled to lift the stay in accordance with his decision last week to overturn Proposition 8, the voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage in California, 10% offers 41 cards celebrating the special day that gay men and lesbians tie the knot.

"We're proud to have celebrated committed lesbian and gay relationships through our greeting card lines for so long," said Ron Miller, President of Village Lighthouse, Inc., the parent company of 10%. "And due to that ongoing support years before same sex marriage was legally validated, we are already prepared to provide members of our community with the greeting cards they need to honor the special day they decide to wed."

10% began selling the first greeting cards specifically for the lesbian and gay community in 1993 due to the absence of such cards in the marketplace. It was a new specialty consumer products company founded by Greg Nimer on the premise that approximately 10 percent of the world population is lesbian or gay and that there was a need for a product that delivered messages reflecting the love, hopes, sorrows and social issues particular to the lesbian and gay community. By 1996, 10% included a category in its product catalog devoted specifically to lesbian and gay union greeting cards.

Greeting cards from 10% can be purchased from over 500 stores worldwide from the independent community retailer to the chain bookstore as well as online retailers including 10%'s own retail website 10percent.com. Retailers interested in carrying 10%'s product lines may contact its wholesale sales team via telephone at 800-650-5963 (International: 323-460-4661) or via email at wholesale@villagelighthouse.com. Media inquiries should be directed to Julian Hobson via telephone at 323-460-4661, x125 or via email at jhobson@villagelighthouse.com.