...
By Aliss Higham
Reporter
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
Major retailer Target has been criticized for removing its LQBTQ+ Pride Month range from some of its stores, with one expert calling it a "a no-win situation of its own making."
Many conservatives called for a boycott against the retail chain following the release of its 2023 Pride collection items, which promoted the LGBTQ+ community. Some items had to be pulled from shelves in some U.S. regions after hostility from customers who at times confronted workers and tipped over displays.
Now, Target has said that this year that it would sell the range "in select stores, based on historical sales performance," in a statement issued on Friday. It will also sell the collection online.
Read More on News
The move has been met with some admonishment from retail experts and LBGTQ+ advocates. Carol Spieckerman, president of retail advisory firm Spieckerman Retail, has said the move makes the major chain look "weak" and is a "a no-win situation of its own making."
...
"Scaling back only makes Target look weak without satisfying the desires of its progressive customers or the all-or-nothing demands of troublemakers," she told MarketWatch. "Target isn't responding to a lack of demand so much as caving to a vocal and hostile contingent that has identified Target as a high-profile example."
Spieckerman acknowledged Target's commitment to providing a space for the company's LGBTQ+ staff members to celebrate the annual event, after the company announced it would "host internal events and experiences where interested team members can learn, reflect, celebrate and connect."
"Target is known for walking the talk where it counts most, by fostering an inclusive corporate culture," Spieckerman said. "It's too bad Target feels it must waver and sit on the fence with its consumer-facing strategies."
Human Rights Campaign President Kelley Robinson was similarly critical, saying the decision "alienates LGBTQ+ individuals and allies at the risk of not only their bottom line but also their values."
"Pride merchandise means something. LGBTQ+ people are in every ZIP code in this country, and we aren't going anywhere," she said in a statement made to NPR. "With LGBTQ+ people making up 30 percent of Gen Z, companies need to understand that community members and allies want businesses that express full-hearted support for the community. That includes visible displays of allyship."
"Target is committed to supporting the LGBTQIA+ community during Pride Month and year-round," a spokesperson for the company told Newsweek. "Most importantly, we want to create a welcoming and supportive environment for our LGBTQIA+ team members, which reflects our culture of care for the over 400,000 people who work at Target." Newsweek has contacted Target for updated comment via email regarding the comments included in this article.
Pride Month is celebrated every June to honor the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan, New York City, according to Library of Congress.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines