Target Stops LGBTQ+ Pride Items Over Staff Safety

Target joined forces with LGBTQ+ artists to produce capsule collections for Pride Month 2023. (Target/PinkNews)

Target removed its LGBTQ+ Pride collection and displays from stores in the US. This was because staff members received violent threats.

The company said it will change its LGBTQ+ merchandise before Pride month. Pride month is starting soon.

The shops in southern states are changing some things. The Pride collection will now be moved to the back. Some shoppers got angry about it.

On May 19th, The New York Post reported that Target was having emergency meetings. The meetings were about the collections that were making right-wing customers upset. The information was from a Target source.

In a 15-minute meeting, advice was given on sales staff safety and what Pride-related items and signage should be removed.

"We refer to our customers as 'guests,' and this makes them really angry. This year, their anger is even more intense than in previous years," a source disclosed.

An insider said the company is scared of a situation like Bud Light's.

Target said in a statement that their team members feel unsafe and their well-being is at risk due to threats since the launch of this year's collection.

We are changing our plans because things are uncertain. We're taking out things that have caused bad actions.

Matt Young from Daily Beast tweeted a part of Target's statement.

Target has made changes to its Pride merchandise ahead of June Pride month. The company released a statement explaining that threats to its workers prompted the changes. The statement did not provide further details about the nature of these threats.

It's not known what Target will remove from their shelves yet. People think they won't show their "tuck-friendly" swimsuits anymore.

The swimsuit made right-wing Americans mad. The store sells stuff for straight, non-transgender people. Lauren Boebert, a Republican, helped make the anger worse on social media. People wanted to boycott the store.

Brian Cornell, who is the CEO of Target, spoke on the Leadership Next podcast about Target's goal to be inclusive and support the LGBTQ+ community. He defended Target's commitment to these values.

He said it's making sales go up and our teams and guests more engaged. Those are good for our business right now.

The man said to the Associated Press that the swimsuits are just for grown-ups. They cover more of the crotch. Children cannot wear them.

Target changed its policy to protect its staff, but many people criticize it online. They accuse the retailer of giving in to right-wing threats.

It has been said that its position is risky for LGBTQ+ individuals.

Target and other companies who give up their values when attacked by fascist mobs put the LGBTQ+ community in danger. They show that we can be easily abandoned.

We're alone in this. We've gotta fight harder than ever before. Stand up tall and fight.

Someone on social media wrote: "These individuals threatened to harm children's hospitals, schools, and LGBTQ locations with death and bombs."

They always got what they wanted with Target. They won't stop using anti-LGBTQ terrorism. It still works as they planned.

Some people were threatening to hurt hospitals, schools, and LGBTQ places. They got what they wanted before. Will they stop now with Target? Terrorizing the LGBTQ community is still effective.

Last month, Bud Light faced a customer boycott. The boycott was because of its collaboration with trans influencer Dylan Mulvaney.

Anheuser-Busch wants its old customers back. So they will change their packaging to camouflage print. It's only temporary.

Target has been contacted by PinkNews for comment.

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