Target Removes Some Pride Items From Shelves After Backlash

This is not the first year Target has unveiled a Pride-themed collection ahead of June’s Pride month. However, it is the first time that right-wing backlash has forced the Minneapolis-based company to remove items from its shelves.

In an official statement, the retailer points to employee safety as the reason behind its decision to pull the products.

“We’ve experienced threats impacting our team members’ sense of safety and well-being while at work. Given these volatile circumstances, we are making adjustments to our plans, including removing items that have been at the center of the most significant confrontational behavior.”

The company did not elaborate on which items would be discontinued. However, the independent and queer-owned brands @ashandchess and @shopjzd (support them and go to their pages to learn more) have publicly acknowledged that their products were among items removed.

The conservative campaign against Target’s Pride collection has included in-store confrontations where angry consumers have become abusive towards employees, as well as viral videos of people yelling at mannequins and, in some instances, destroying the Pride merchandise and displays.

Right-wing social media sites and influencers have called for a Target boycott which, according to the latest stock market numbers, has cost the company $9 billion in market value in the last week alone.

Target isn’t the only brand to receive recent backlash for its support of LGBTQ communities. Bud Light was boycotted by conservatives earlier this year after releasing a campaign featuring trans actress Dylan Mulvaney.

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#transrights #target #lgbtq #pride #pridemonthTarget