Target removes some LGBTQ+ items after threats to workers ahead of Pride month

[essentialsaltes]

NEW YORK (AP) — Target is removing certain items from its stores and making other changes to its LGBTQ+ merchandise nationwide ahead of Pride month, after an intense backlash from some customers including violent confrontations with its workers.

 

[HTacianas]

NEW YORK (AP) — Target is removing certain items from its stores and making other changes to its LGBTQ+ merchandise nationwide ahead of Pride month, after an intense backlash from some customers including violent confrontations with its workers.

"...occult- and satanic-themed LGBTQ+ clothing and accessories, have also created backlash."

Who would have thought.

 

[essentialsaltes]

Who would have thought.

I certainly wouldn't have thought that threatening sales clerks was an appropriate response.

 

[comana]

I thought the people complaining about the “tuck” friendly bottoms was hilarious. It’s an ordinary suit bottom with a little more coverage that anyone wanting a little more modesty in a traditional bottom should appreciate.

 

[HTacianas]

I certainly wouldn't have thought that threatening sales clerks was an appropriate response.

I don't condone threatening anyone for any reason. But neither do I think it's a good idea to have satanic themed LGBTQ wherewithal on display in the front of a department store.

 

[Nithavela]

How does "satanic lgbtq+" apparel look? Anyone got any examples?

 

[essentialsaltes]

How does "satanic lgbtq+" apparel look? Anyone got any examples?

The creator's brand is Abprallen based in the UK - there's a link in the OP article. I only see one image that is 'Satanic': "Satan Respects Pronouns" (available as tee, sticker or badge)

Most of it looks kinda tattoo-arty. So there's a fair amount of skulls, but not really satanic. A few images drift into astrology, newage, paganism territory.

 

[Larniavc]

NEW YORK (AP) — Target is removing certain items from its stores and making other changes to its LGBTQ+ merchandise nationwide ahead of Pride month, after an intense backlash from some customers including violent confrontations with its workers.

Americans using violence to address their personal hang ups seems to be becoming an American institution.

 

[Larniavc]

The creator's brand is Abprallen based in the UK - there's a link in the OP article. I only see one image that is 'Satanic': "Satan Respects Pronouns" (available as tee, sticker or badge)

Seems pointing out that Satanist’s are more inclusive drives some folks to violence.

How ironic.

 

[DaisyDay]

And it's lefty liberals who perpetuate Cancel Culture?

 

[MehGuy]

Not the biggest fan of pride month overall (for non-conservative reasons), but I do find this news sad.

 

[disciple Clint]

NEW YORK (AP) — Target is removing certain items from its stores and making other changes to its LGBTQ+ merchandise nationwide ahead of Pride month, after an intense backlash from some customers including violent confrontations with its workers.

that is a nice twist, but truly Target did not want to get the same loss of business that Bud Light experienced, it was a business decision.

 

[ozso]

It's best for those who object to simply boycott Target, the way they've boycotted Budweiser. That's what will put a stop to other companies making the same mistake.

 

[ozso]

"...occult- and satanic-themed LGBTQ+ clothing and accessories, have also created backlash."

Who would have thought.

Well at least it makes it clear that there's a connection between Satanic and LGBTQ+.

 

[USincognito]

I don't condone threatening anyone for any reason. But neither do I think it's a good idea to have satanic themed LGBTQ wherewithal on display in the front of a department store.

You don't believe in the 1st Amendment and capitalism?

 

[USincognito]

that is a nice twist, but truly Target did not want to get the same loss of business that Bud Light experienced, it was a business decision.

It was a safety decision. On Stephanie Miller today, they said the Hollywood Target still has it's display because folks there aren't threatening employees.

 

[USincognito]

Well at least it makes it clear that there's a connection between Satanic and LGBTQ+.

Only in the same way that "God, Guns and Guts" shows a connection between Christianity and mass shootings...

it doesn't.

 

[HTacianas]

You don't believe in the 1st Amendment and capitalism?

Sure I do. But I still don't think it's a good idea to have satanic themed LGBTQ wherewithal on display in the front of a department store.

 

[ozso]

Only in the same way that "God, Guns and Guts" shows a connection between Christianity and mass shootings...

it doesn't.

That doesn't work with something as directly stated as "satanic-themed LGBTQ+ clothing".

 

[ThatRobGuy]

Obviously threatening sales clerks is unacceptable...it's not their fault that the company they work for decided to go in particular direction.

That being said, Target had to know that there would be some backlash to some of this stuff.

Also per the AP:
At a Target in New York City’s downtown Brooklyn neighborhood that the AP visited on Monday, the same adult swimsuits shown on social media featured the “tuck-friendly” tag, while a kids’ black swimskirt for sale instead had a tag reading: “Thoughtfully Fit on Multiple Body Types and Gender Expressions.”


Per Reuters:
Target Corp (TGT.N) is offering more than 2,000 products, including clothing, books, music and home furnishings as part of its Pride Collection. 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."


Certainly they had to know this was going to cause some backlash.

And I think the part of this that's rather telling (but doesn't seem to be getting discussed) is that a large portion of clientele that shop at Target aren't really the "staunch conservative types" (most of those types switched from Target to Walmart exclusively when Target implemented their Trans inclusive bathroom policies some time ago).

Walmart vs. Target: A Political Divide Among Shoppers

Walmart is more popular among Republican shoppers, while Target does better with Democrats, according to Morning Consult’s Most Polarizing Brands data.

pro.morningconsult.com

So one could reasonably conclude that a lot of this backlash is coming from people who may be moderates or either center left.

Other related polling indicates that while there's certainly a partisan divide with regards to the topic as a whole (when you present it as a simple yes/no question), when you drill down into the finer details, there's a lot of people on the liberal-leaning/democratic side who still aren't crazy about some of this kind of stuff that's targeting (pun intended) a youth audience.

Americans’ Complex Views on Gender Identity and Transgender Issues

Most favor protecting trans people from discrimination, but fewer support policies related to medical care for gender transitions; many are uneasy with the pace of change on trans issues.

www.pewresearch.org

On issues relating to transgender youth, Democrats and Republicans are far apart | YouGov

A recent YouGov poll finds that Americans are highly divided when it comes to issues relating to transgender youth. This may stem in part from the fact that few Americans feel they have a very good understanding of the treatments available to transgender children and teenagers. Those who do feel...

today.yougov.com

While >80% of Democrats feel that trans people should be able to use the bathroom of their choice and favor measures against job and housing discrimination, 40% of Democrats still feel that people should participate on the team that matches assigned sex at birth, only half of democrats support transitioning minors, and a third of democrats aren't crazy about things like teaching this subject matter in elementary schools.


I think it's misguided for any corporate entity to just blindly assume that "we're liberal, our shoppers also identify as liberal, therefore any left-leaning thing we decide to do on this subject will be met with rave reviews and glowing endorsements" or to assume that just because the majority of their shoppers were okay with the trans-inclusive bathroom policy, that that somehow means that they're "100% on-board with everything the trans activists are advocating for"