Target Is the Latest Company to Cave to Homophobes, Removes ‘Pride’ Merchandise

At this point, it's just to be expected: most corporations will be allies so long as it doesn't inconvenience them. Target just announced that they will be removing a bunch of their Pride Month merchandise because of conservatives and homophobes complaining to the company. Claiming that the decision was "about threats impacting [their] team members’ sense of safety and well-being while at work" the company issued a statement saying it will be removing much of the merchandise.

One of the main items that has received a ton of backlash was a "tuck-friendly" bathing suit, for trans and gender non-conforming adults. Conservative bigots complained that the company was selling inclusive bathing suits to children, which is simply not true. Non-partisan news organizations like the Associated Press (AP) reported as much, but that didn't stop the hateful disinformation from going viral.

The company's social media accounts have been flooded with hateful messages saying Target is trying to groom kids and with customers claiming they are boycotting the company forever. But with just as much hate as they have been receiving, the Queer community and its allies have spoken up just as loudly. Justice Horn, Chair of the Kansas City LGBTQ Commission, tweeted his displeasure at the fickle nature of Target's allyship, saying, "If you’re not going to stand with our community on the bad days, please don’t stand with us on the good days."

When organizations cave like this it shows all of us that it was never about standing with LGBTQ+ people, it was always about making a profit.

If you’re not going to stand with our community on the bad days, please don’t stand with us on the good days. https://t.co/zq1BCwu1O6

— Justice Horn (@JusticeHorn_) May 24, 2023

The company has seen a number of customers throwing the Pride merchandise on the ground, stomping on them, and generally acting like absolute trash. Harvard Law teacher Alejandra Caraballo tweeted a video of some of the pieces of $h#t that vandalized a Target because of its Pride merch. Instead of arresting these people for public vandalism and acts of hate, the company is instead choosing to align itself with them.

This is who @Target is caving to, deranged terrorists threatening to "hunt" LGBTQ people. pic.twitter.com/1m4ssQk1L2

— Alejandra Caraballo (@Esqueer_) May 24, 2023

The Target decision follows a slew of culture war backlashes centered on caving to hatred and fear. Bud Light backed off their support of Dylan Mulvaney after they received backlash for having her appear on a select amount of their beer cans, and most recently the Los Angeles Dodgers faced major backlash when they kowtowed to Marco Rubio and the Catholic League by uninviting a group of drag artists from their Pride Night. They've at least backtracked and issued a full apology, as well as a re-invitation to the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.

We'll see what comes of this Target debacle. Target CEO Brian Cornell recently said in an interview with Fortune's Leadership Next podcast Target wants to support "all families" and that their "focus on diversity and inclusion and equity has fueled much of our growth over the last nine years." Talk is cheap, Cornell. Step up.

Fleshbot: Plug In Get Off.
Questions? Comments? Email us at [email protected]
Follow us on Twitter and Instagram.