New York CNN —
Target on Wednesday said it was removing some products that celebrate Pride Month after the company and its employes became the focus of a “volatile” anti-LGBTQ campaign.
The company said threats against employees impacted their sense of safety and well-being, but Target did not specify which products it was removing, the nature of the threats, or where they occurred. Target said it removed from shelves “items that have been at the center of the most significant confrontational behavior.”
For a decade, Target has celebrated Pride Month in and around June. The company runs advertisem*nts to appeal to LGBTQ customers and employees, and it sells t-shirts, coffee mugs and merchandise with rainbow flags and other symbols of gay rights.
“Pride Month at Target is a time of affirmation and solidarity with the LGBTQIA+ community,” the company says on its website.
“Our focus now is on moving forward with our continuing commitment to the LGBTQIA+ community and standing with them as we celebrate Pride Month and throughout the year,” Target said in a statement Wednesday.
The company told the Wall Street Journal that people have confronted workers in stores, knocked down Pride merchandise displays and put threatening posts on social media with video from inside stores. Some people have thrown Pride items on the floor, Target spokesperson Kayla Castaneda told Reuters.
Prominent right-wing activists, Republican political leaders and conservative media outlets have focused their attention on a women’s swimsuit that was described as “tuck friendly” for its ability to conceal male genitalia. Misinformation spread on social media that it was marketed to children, which it was not.
Target is reviewing certain transgender swimsuits and children’s merchandise, Castaneda told Reuters, but no decision on those products has yet been made.
Opponents also highlighted Target’s products made by trans designer Erik Carnell, who often uses Satanic symbols in his designs. For Target, the UK designer created a bag, tote and sweatshirt for adults with messages such as “We Belong Everywhere,” “Too Queer for Here,” and “Cure Transphobia.”
Target offers more than 2,000 products, including clothing, books, music and home furnishings as part of its Pride Collection, Reuters reports. The items include “gender fluid” mugs, “queer all year” calendars and books for children aged 2-8 titled “Bye Bye, Binary,” “Pride 1,2,3” and “I’m not a girl.”
Screenshots and posts on social media show that Target previously sold a $25 slogan sweater with the words “cure transphobia not trans people” and an $18 “too queer for here” tote bag.
The company is removing items made by LGBTQ brand Abprallen, which has come under scrutiny for its association with Eric Carnell, according to Reuters. The products Target is withdrawing are being removed from all its US stores and from its website, Castaneda told Reuters. A search for Abprallen merchandise on Target.com on Tuesday showed “0” results.
Target’s action comes on the heels of a conservative backlash against Bud Light, after brewer Anheuser-Busch promoted the beer on social media last month with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney.
– Reuters contributed to this report.
As a seasoned expert and enthusiast deeply immersed in the realms of corporate social responsibility, LGBTQIA+ advocacy, and the intersection of commerce and social issues, I bring forth a wealth of knowledge to dissect and analyze the recent developments involving Target and its withdrawal of certain Pride Month products. My extensive background in corporate activism and the dynamics of public sentiment enables me to shed light on the nuances and implications of these actions.
Let's break down the key concepts embedded in the article:
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Target's Involvement in Pride Month:
- Target has been an active participant in celebrating Pride Month for the past decade.
- The company engages in advertising campaigns targeting LGBTQ customers and employees.
- Pride-themed merchandise, including t-shirts, coffee mugs, and items adorned with rainbow flags, is sold during this period.
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Anti-LGBTQ Campaign and Employee Safety:
- Target announced the removal of certain Pride Month products due to a "volatile" anti-LGBTQ campaign.
- The decision was influenced by threats against employees, impacting their sense of safety and well-being.
- The company did not specify the nature of the threats, the location of incidents, or the exact products being removed.
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Nature of Confrontations:
- Incidents include confrontations with workers in stores, damage to Pride merchandise displays, and threatening social media posts.
- Some individuals have reportedly thrown Pride items on the floor in protest.
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Focus on Specific Products and Controversies:
- Right-wing activists and conservative media have targeted a women's swimsuit described as "tuck friendly," leading to misinformation on social media.
- Target is reviewing transgender swimsuits and children's merchandise but has not made decisions on those products.
- Attention has been drawn to products by trans designer Erik Carnell, known for incorporating Satanic symbols into designs.
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Product Offerings and LGBTQ Brand Associations:
- Target's Pride Collection includes over 2,000 products, spanning clothing, books, music, and home furnishings.
- The company is removing items made by LGBTQ brand Abprallen due to its association with designer Eric Carnell.
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Conservative Backlash and Similar Incidents:
- The article draws parallels with a recent conservative backlash against Bud Light following its promotion with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney.
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Extent of Target's Actions:
- Target's removal of specific products extends to all its U.S. stores and its online platform.
- Products by LGBTQ brand Abprallen are specifically mentioned as being withdrawn.
In conclusion, Target's recent actions, shaped by a volatile anti-LGBTQ campaign, highlight the challenges faced by companies when navigating the intersection of social issues and commerce. The withdrawal of Pride Month products underscores the complex dynamics involved in balancing corporate advocacy with potential public backlash.
