Less than two weeks after retail giant Target came under fire for its line of pride-themed clothing, including ‘tuck-friendly’ swimsuits for transgender youth, an internal email was exposed by Greg Price showing that the company will make employees at its stores and corporate offices participate in pride month events.
“Show your Pride | In honor of Pride Week, join team members across the company for various events to connect and build community virtually and at Minneapolis HQ. Check out a few highlights below and visit the Pride+ SharePoint for details, Zoom links, and more,” the message read.
BREAKING: I have obtained an internal email @Target sent to their employees today, which asks them to participate in "Pride Week" activities that include "Queer Bingo," a presentation on "How to be a better ally," and a "Pride+ Pro Sports panel." pic.twitter.com/UNN09rldwh
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) June 5, 2023
The pride-themed festivities could reportedly include events such as a pride-themed game day with pride bingo.
There is also a presentation from the company’s “Pride+ Culture Club” on “How to be a Better Ally.”
The company also advertised a series of other pro-LGBT events and told employees in the email, “This is a safe space to talk about anything that’s been on your mind lately.”
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Target’s market cap recently plummeted due to boycotts by conservative consumers due to their pride-themed clothing line, but they have received backlash from the other side of the aisle as well after they pulled some items from their stores.
Target’s market cap is down over $13 billion amid “Pride” backlash. LGBT groups are demanding Target pick a side after the company pulled Pride merchandise from shelves. This scenario is really amazing. It’s the first time in a long time corporations have felt consequences for… https://t.co/SytXrATdUb pic.twitter.com/zlkrrlyfN3
— Pedro L. Gonzalez (@emeriticus) June 6, 2023
The Human Rights Campaign, along with GLAAD, GLSEN, and other pro-LGBT groups, released a statement pushing back against conservative boycott efforts against Target and other businesses like Anheuser-Busch and telling them to “reject and speak out against anti-LGBTQ+ extremism going into Pride Month.” More than 200 other progressive and LGBTQ organizations signed on to the statement, arguing that supporting LGBT causes is good for business.
“When it comes to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion, there is no such thing as neutrality,” the LGTBQ coalition further said.
The statement also called conservative activists ‘extremists’ and told corporations that if they support, LGBT causes, they will show that ‘fear will not win.’
“Target, and all businesses, can leverage the support of LGBTQ+ organizations to navigate this hate so that together, we can let extremists know unequivocally that, just as with every other failed anti-LGBTQ+ campaign of the past, fear will not win,” the statement reads.
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Still, conservatives have been encouraged by recent boycott efforts after seeing positive results, and some are calling for a boycott of Chick Fil A after the company that was once perceived as conservative hired a Vice President of Diversity.
BOYCOTT CALL: Chick-fil-A's decision to hire a vice president of diversity, equity, and inclusion has led some prominent conservative influencers and organizations to call for a national boycott. MORE: https://t.co/niqMIxcNwa pic.twitter.com/63W7shz94v
— NEWSMAX (@NEWSMAX) May 31, 2023
Business leaders have started to pivot away from woke causes as conservative lawmakers and activists have increased scrutiny on America’s namesake companies.
Replying to a Tweet by Charlie Kirk about Target, Tesla and Twitter CEO Elon Musk said that it “Won’t be long before there are class-action lawsuits by shareholders against the company and board of directors for the destruction of shareholder value.” He warned.
Won’t be long before there are class-action lawsuits by shareholders against the company and board of directors for destruction of shareholder value
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 2, 2023
The news is just the latest in a series of tough breaks for Target, who just received a letter from America First Legal demanding access to its documents relating to LGBT marketing on behalf of a shareholder.
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