The following letter was sent to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch

On Oct. 12, for a brief moment we thought it was refreshing to see a Mustached American not in a mug shot, but on the front of the business section of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. We were quickly reminded, however, that discrimination against our people remains in its ever-enduring persistent state - even in this progressive metropolitan area - and that Mustached Americans remain an easy target for those looking for examples of the distressed, or on whom to lay blame for crimes, poor fashion choices, or in this case, cite as being jobless.

The Post-Dipatch's story, "You've Been Laid Off...," of course focuses on the current implosion in the U.S. economy, the residual impacts on businesses, and thus the related job losses. The story provides tips for those who have lost jobs and suggests how to making ends meet.

What is distressing is that the piece not surprisingly pictures an unnamed Mustached American for no reason whatsoever. In short, the man pictured is not someone who was laid off, he is simply someone playing a role for a staged photo depicting yet another down and out Mustached American.

This is why groups like the St. Louis-based American Mustache Institute must fight for the civil liberties of our people and create vehicles for recognition such as the soon to be named  "Robert Goulet Mustached American of the Year."

One day, we hope that we can live in a world where all men and women are, in fact, treated equally. But until that time comes, we will continue to battle the negative stereotyping that has accompanied our Mustached American brothers and sisters since our cultural heyday in the 1970s.

Dr. Abraham Froman

Chief Executive Officer

The American Mustache Institute