Over 200 LGBTQ groups demand Target RESTOCK ‘crease-friendly’ swimsuits and Pride merchandise
More than 200 LGBTQ groups are demanding that Target restock its controversial Pride merchandise and take a stand against “extremists.”
The Human Rights Campaign, along with GLAAD and the controversial GLSEN, released a statement Monday asking the retail giant and other companies, including Bud Light brewer Anheuser-Bush, to end “anti-LGBTQ+ extremism entering Pride Month.” pointing out and speaking out’.
More than 200 other progressive organizations also signed the statement, arguing that showing support to the community is good for business.
But Target has lost $14 billion in market value since the chain was revealed to be selling “crease-friendly” women’s swimsuits, and Anheuser-Busch lost more than $15 billion since TikToker Dylan Mulvaney placed an ad for Bud Light in early April.
It comes as Stephen Miller’s America First Legal is demanding that Target turn over all of the company’s books and documents detailing its promotion of LGBTQ products and its fall in market value.
Target has lost billions of dollars in market cap in the space of days as it continues to face backlash for a Pride-themed clothing line
Target sold “crease-friendly” swimsuits for women, and a tweet falsely claimed that it also sold such swimsuits to children
When conservatives and moderates began boycotting Target last month, several stores in the South decided to move their Pride displays to smaller areas in the back.
CEO Brian Cornell also released a statement saying the company pulled several items that were “at the center of the most confrontational behavior.”
“Since the introduction of this year’s collection, we have faced threats that affect our team members’ sense of safety and well-being at work,” the company said in a statement.
“Given these unstable conditions, we are adjusting our plans, including removing items that were central to the most significant confrontational behavior.”
But the decision sparked further backlash, this time from LGBTQ+ advocates.
Now, the coalition of pro-LGBTQ organizations is calling on Target to restock all of its Pride merchandise, ensure the safety of Target employees and issue a statement within 24 hours saying they “reaffirm their commitment to the LGBTQ+ community.” to confirm’.
“When it comes to promoting diversity, equity and inclusion, there is no such thing as neutrality,” they argue letter is reading.
It claims those who support the continued boycott are “extremists.”
“Their goal is clear: to prevent LGBTQ+ inclusion and representation, to silence our allies and to make our community invisible,” the groups argue.
“These attacks are fueling hatred against LGBTQ+ people, just as we’ve seen this year with over 500 anti-LGBTQ+ laws that curtail basic freedoms and aim to wipe out LGBTQ+ people.”
The coalition also suggested it would continue to support Target and any other company that rejects criticism.
“Target, and all companies, can use the support of LGBTQ+ organizations to navigate this hatred, so that together we can let extremists know unequivocally that, as with every failed anti-LGBTQ+ campaign of the past, fear will not to win.’
Since partnering with Mulvaney, Bud Light’s parent company, Anheuser-Busch, has faced boycotts and declining sales
Following backlash, Target’s CEO announced it would pull some of the more controversial items from its shelves. Shown here is an adult Pride bikini, which is still available on the website
The pro-LGBTQ+ organizations labeled those who speak out against Pride as “extremists.” MAGA rapper Forgiato Blow is pictured with an unnamed woman at a boycott of the chain in Midtown Miami earlier this month
Target previously faced similar backlash from Erik Carnell, a transgender man and Satanist, who designed much of the merchandise for the chain’s Pride Month line.
The British designer, whose slogans include “Satan loves pronouns,” said none of the clothes he designed for Target were “Satanic.”
He also argued that companies like Target that launch products and campaigns for Pride Month try to take advantage of LGBTQ people but fail to assist them when challenges arise.
“It’s a very dangerous precedent to state that if people get excited enough about the products you’re selling, you can completely distance yourself from the LGBT community when and if it’s convenient,” Carnell said.
“If you take a stand and say you care about the LGBT community, you have to stick with it no matter what.”
Erik Carnell (pictured) is a transgender designer and artist whose products have been pulled from its Pride collection by US retailer Target, amid backlash from some customers
He denied that all the clothing he designed for Target was “satanic.” Some Pride Month clothing for kids is seen in a store in Austin, Texas
Target had spoken out about its support for LGBTQ groups in the past and created Pride Month displays for years.
It also donated more than $2.1 million to the pro-gay organization GLSEN, whose policies include requiring school staff to “ensure that all personally identifiable and medical information related to transgender and non-binary students is kept confidential.” .
The retail chain says on its website that the organization ‘leads the movement in creating affirming, accessible and anti-racist spaces for LGBTQIA+ students.
‘We are proud of more than 10 years of cooperation with GLSEN and continue to support their mission.’
But the company did not mention that its vice president of brand management, Carlos Saavedra, 43, also volunteers as the organization’s director.
He joined Target in July 2019 and was named Vice President, Brand Management in January 2021, according to his LinkedIn page.
According to his profile, he joined GLSEN as a board member in May 2019 and was elected to the executive committee as treasurer in November 2021.
Saavedra’s profile explains that the mission of the organization is ‘to help create safe spaces in schools for LGBTQIA+ students’.
Carlos Saavedra, 43, is Target’s vice president of brand management and also volunteers as a director at GLSEN, which supports LGBTQ youth in schools
Police officers stood outside a Target store in Miami as people protested across the street
But as news of Target’s “pleat-friendly” bikinis spread on social media, the value has plummeted by $14 billion.
And despite attempts by the brand to backtrack on its disastrous campaign, the continued share price declines led JPMorgan to downgrade its stock from “neutral” to “overweight,” citing “too many concerns are mounting.”
“We continue to believe that consumers are broadly weakening as the share of the wallet shifts away from goods (51% of the [Target’s] sale) is underway,” wrote JPMorgan analyst Christopher Horvers, according to Market overview.
Horvers also cited “recent corporate controversies” as the reason Target suffered devastating financial losses, which came after “an impressive streak of 12 consecutive positive quarters.”
Now, former presidential adviser Miller’s America First Legal is formally demanding that Target be transparent about its “radical LGBT political agenda.”
It asks the company to turn over all company books and records detailing the promotion of LGBTQ products and the decline in market value.
“For Target to voluntarily and aggressively join this movement is an act of sabotage against Target shareholders and a destroyer of value – including for countless Americans for whom Target stock is part of the pension funds, mutual funds and retirement accounts on which they depend.” Miller said in a statement.
“America First Legal is proud to represent American shareholders who have been financially harmed by Target’s descent into gender extremism and child exploitation,” he added.