LGBTQ advocate on Target's 'rainbow capitalism': 'They're in this just for the money'
"Just Breathe: Parenting your LGBTQ Teen" host Heather Hester told Fox News Digital that Target's decision to pull some of its Pride merchandise was a "missed opportunity."
More than 200 LGBTQ groups angered by Target's decision to pull Pride merchandise from shelves are demanding the company "denounce extremists" and restock all the Pride merchandise in stores and online.
The Human Rights Campaign, along with GLAAD, GLSEN and other groups, released a statement asking Target and other businesses like Anheuser-Busch to "reject and speak out against anti-LGBTQ+ extremism going into Pride Month." More than 200 other progressive and LGBTQ organizations signed on to the statement, which argued that showing support for their community was good for business.
The organizations laid out a three-part demand that calls on Target to restock all the Pride merchandise both in stores and online, ensure the safety of Target employees and release a statement "reaffirming their commitment to the LGBTQ+ community" within 24 hours.
"When it comes to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion, there is no such thing as neutrality," the LGTBQ coalition said.
Target Pride Month display (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
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The coalition suggested they would continue to support Target and other businesses who rejected criticism from consumers.
"Target, and all businesses, can leverage the support of LGBTQ+ organizations to navigate this hate, so that together, we can let extremists know unequivocally that, just as with every other failed anti-LGBTQ+ campaign of the past, fear will not win," the statement reads.
Target displays LGBTQ-themed apparel annually leading into June. However, the retail giant came under increased scrutiny after consumers noticed stores selling "tuck-friendly" women's bathing suits for transgender people and Pride apparel for children and infants.
The company responded to widespread backlash over the Pride merchandise by moving some Pride products to less prominent sections of the store and removing other merchandise altogether. Target said it moved the products to ensure employees' safety.
Many Target locations across the country feature June Pride month displays on an annual basis. (Brian Flood/Fox News)
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The move angered progressives and LGBTQ groups who said Target had "caved to violent political extremists" and "betrayed" LGTBQ customers.
Several of the designers who partnered with the company spoke to the media about their disappointment in the company not standing by their products when faced with backlash.
"It's a very dangerous precedent to set, that if people just get riled up enough about the products that you're selling, you can completely distance yourself from the LGBT community, when and if it's convenient," Abprallen designer Erik Carnell told Reuters.
Another designer for the Pride collection said Target had removed most of their collection from stores "due to threats from domestic terrorists."
Target CEO Brian Cornell sent a letter to employees in defense of the company's handling of its Pride collection. (Paul Weaver/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images | Reuters/Shannon Stapleton)
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Target has only released one public statement on the controversy so far.
"For more than a decade, Target has offered an assortment of products aimed at celebrating Pride Month. Since introducing this year's collection, 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. Our focus now is on moving forward with our continuing commitment to the LGBTQIA+ community and standing with them as we celebrate Pride Month and throughout the year," the company said in a release on May 24.
That same day, Target CEO Brian Cornell defended the company's decision in a letter to employees while expressing support for the LGBTQ community.
Target did not respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
Fox News' Brian Flood contributed to this report.
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