Things are quite different today in gay politics and news than they were just two years ago. Then, the president remained on the fence with gay rights, American opposition to gay marriage was floundering, and even corporations put in their say for or against LGBT issues.
Retail giant Target was one of those crying for change against LGBT interests. In 2010, Target came under scrutiny for donating $150,000 to then conservative Minnesota GOP gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer, who opposed gay marriage. The company quickly backpedaled amid pressure from activists and celebrity allies, like Lady Gaga.
But as tides change and polls now show that more Americans are in support of gay rights, companies like Target are taking note.
The Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports that Target Corporation is launching a charitable T-shirt line in support of gay pride. No doubt the company sees value in LGBT consumers and growth from other retail lines with gay themes, like the American Apparel "Legalize Gay" T's.
Target will carry 10 designs in stores, including two designed by pop star Gwen Stefani, a celebrity backer of LGBT family group Family Equality Council (FEC) . Target says it will donate $120,000 of sales proceeds to FEC.
Retail giant Target was one of those crying for change against LGBT interests. In 2010, Target came under scrutiny for donating $150,000 to then conservative Minnesota GOP gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer, who opposed gay marriage. The company quickly backpedaled amid pressure from activists and celebrity allies, like Lady Gaga.
But as tides change and polls now show that more Americans are in support of gay rights, companies like Target are taking note.
The Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports that Target Corporation is launching a charitable T-shirt line in support of gay pride. No doubt the company sees value in LGBT consumers and growth from other retail lines with gay themes, like the American Apparel "Legalize Gay" T's.
Target will carry 10 designs in stores, including two designed by pop star Gwen Stefani, a celebrity backer of LGBT family group Family Equality Council (FEC) . Target says it will donate $120,000 of sales proceeds to FEC.
Thanks for this news,because I have not shopped at Target since the news of there large gift.
Any idea when the T’s will be available?
The donation to our community will be $120.000 from the sales of one specific product.
The donation to the anti-equality (sorry, but that’s what it is) was $150.00 from their proffit.
Who do they think we are? Target won’t see my pink dollars until they really support us. What they are doing now is just to get more business. They don’t really support the GLBT community. They just want us to think that way so we cam shop there and use our own money to support more anty-equality candidates.
Don’t let them do it!
If anyone is buying this transparent attempt to win back the lost “gay dollars”, then I have some swampland in Florida to sell you. Target has still quietly been donating to homophobic politicians (while throwing a few meager bucks at the occasional Democrat), but despite their claim of reforming how they portion out political donations, nothing has changed. The fact that people seem to have forgotten all of this is typical, and the fact that they got Ricky Martin and Barbra Streisand to sell out — after Lady Gaga cancelled their exclusive deal — is just shameful on those artists parts. I have not shopped at Target since the Emmer scandal, and I will not support their one-time effort here. If you really want to help the organization they’re donating too, just send them the price of the T-shirt yourself. Everyone wins (except Target), and you get a tax deduction in the process!
Why must I, a gay man, BUY something from Target in order to have them donate to a pro-LGBT organization? No one had to buy anything when they were busily giving money to anti-LGBT groups! If their corporate heart is in the right place, just give the money NOW instead of waiting for me to buy a shirt I don’t intend to buy from them. If they give the funds up front, THAT would permit me to reconsider!!
As an Australian and a gay male, I didn’t realise that Target was donating money to anti gay politicians and anti gay as a whole. Thankyou for opening my eyes guy’s and informing me of this. I have shopped at Target for many years but I will not in future and I will be letting anyone who will listen to me here in Oz about there hidden agenda…… It is so sad that in this day and age there is still so much discrimination to gay’s…..