200 Advocacy Organizations Outraged As Target Pulls Popular Annual Pride Month Products

For the past several years, Target has included a Pride Month inspired clothing collection that showcases LGBTQ+ designers. The 2023 collection was abruptly removed from stores following right-wing backlash. The corporation maintains a decades long partnership with the Gay Lesbian & Straight Educational Network (GLSEN), which works towards LGBTQ+ inclusive education in schools.

However, this year, the store was met with a barrage of attacks from right-wing influencers and media personalities aggressively criticizing the collection. Some even went as far as destroying merchandise, claiming that it grooms children.

In wake of the backlash, the corporation pulled the Pride merchandise without warning. Even one designer whose clothing designs were being sold as a part of the collection was reportedly not notified, as he told Pink News.

The designer did note that while disappointed, he understood if the merchandise was removed on the basis of protecting customers from mass shooting hate crimes.

The Public Reaction

200 LGBTQ+ organizations joined together to push Target to take a firmer stance as an ally to the community. The coalition of groups demand a statement from Target regarding their decision to pull the Pride merchandise, and for the merchandise to be reinstated in stores.

Target’s choice to pull the merchandise comes after months of right-wing attacks on LGBTQ+ advertising campaigns. Notably, transgender TikTok creator and actress Dylan Mulvaney was met with an onslaught of transphobia across social media after Bud Light sponsored her in a viral Instagram post.

The spike in homophobia comes after months of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation spreading across the country. Florida led the charge with the “Don’t Say Gay Bill,” with Tennessee following suit and attempting to ban drag performances “anywhere a minor can see them.” Several other states additionally introduced bans on gender affirming healthcare for minors. The legislation comes amid a mass effort to censor public education, including the elimination of critical race theory.

Among the lengthy list of organizations involved are the Interfaith Alliance, the I Am Human Foundation, the Women’s March, and  more. The coalition’s statement was met with mixed responses. While some supported the efforts, others fear that the efforts could only bring more danger to the LGBTQ+ community.

Many remind the right-leaning personalities criticizing Target that the collection did not actively sexualize LGBTQ+ people, and therefore the argument that the collection sexualized children was invalid.

Target is yet to release a statement on the matter.

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