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“Are petitions like these actually effective?”

One might as well as if one’s vote is actually effective. Oftentimes it is not, but I vote anyway. I would think that a lot of petitioners, and a lot of lost sales, would be just as effective as a lot of votes. I may not sign a petition, but I'll skip the Home Depot stop and go to Lowes.

Just a question: Are petitions like these actually effective?

It's what happens after the petition is presented that matters. Some companies act quickly to correct course when presented with something like this. Those who do not, and in fact openly refuse to back away from homosexual activism support, will probably then be subjected to a nationwide call for boycott.

Happened to K-Mart Corp years ago over I think display of porn mags in their Waldenbooks subsidiary, if I remember correctly. Nationwide boycott lasted for several years as their top dog adamantly refused to listen and respond to customer concerns.

Might not be the only factor, but look at their sales numbers over that time period and it's pretty convincing. The AFA finally called off the boycott after the top dog was replaced and new guy took action to sell off Waldenbooks: http://afajournal.org/1995/11-1295AFAJ.pdf

Bottom line for Home Depot: Pay attention to your customers and at least move to a neutral position on something like this -- or pay for it in lost sales.

Are petitions like these actually effective?

They're more effective than if people just say nothing. The AFA has definitely been effective in getting some corporations, notably McDonalds, to stop pandering so much to the homosexual activists. Ford was also moved to change policies.

In corporations, even miniscule increments in profitability matter. So $1,500 going to a competitor in one year, multiplied by 100's of customers, is noted.

I did more than sign the petition to Home Depot. I made copies of all of my Lowe's receipts and will attach them to my personal letter to my local Home Depot store manager to show exactly how much they're losing.