American retailers Walmart and Target are in an awkward stand–off following weeks of boycott threats against Target after it pulled a range of Pride–related merchandise.
Target recently pulled some of its Pride merchandise, including items designed by transgender man and self–proclaimed Satanist Erik Carnell, saying it was to avoid ‘volatile circumstances.’ This, followed Bud Light‘s disastrous decision to partner with trans influencer Dylan Mulvaney, resulted in a huge public backlash and consumer boycott.
The pride merchandise had been presented in many of its locations as part of the retailer‘s ‘Pride & Joy‘ collection which included a range of items, such as $7.98 sets of enamel pins with slogans like ‘Be You.’ and ‘You are Enough‘ as well as clothing like a kids shirt which reads ‘I Love My Two Moms.’
The merchandise was meant to celebrate Pride Month, celebrated during June, which is proudly represented by the LGBTQIA+ community. However, the backlash from some of Target’s customers led them to adjust their merchandising plans – leading to the removal of merchandise and displays ‘that have been at the center of the most significant confrontational behavior‘ in some stores.
However, other retailers stand firm on their Pride Month collections. Walmart‘s Chief Merchandising Officer Latriece Watkins said the retailer sells products ‘all year that support different groups‘ adding that ‘in this particular case, we haven‘t changed anything in our assortment.’
Walmart offers a range of pride–related merchandise, including rainbow–adorned flags, clothing, and accessories. Their selection of products has proven to be successful, with Walmart CEO Doug McMillon telling shareholders on Wednesday that stock is up more than 14 percent.
This show of support for Pride Month has not gone unnoticed by members of the LGBTQIA+ community, including Erik Carnell, the designer whose slogans include ‘Satan loves pronouns.’ Carnel said it was ‘a very dangerous precedent to set‘ suggesting companies like Target could ‘completely distance themselves from the LGBT community, when and if it‘s convenient.’
Governor Gavin Newsom also issued a statement to criticize Target. He wrote on Twitter on May 24: ‘CEO of Target Brian Cornell selling out the LGBTQIA+ community to extremists is a real profile in courage.’
To which Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene counteracted: ‘No one is attacking the gay community Gavin. They don‘t want their children forcefully exposed to the radical side of pride…We don‘t support your California child genital mutilation industry. As a matter of fact, I want to end it.’
This whole fiasco has resulted in some consumers calling for a boycott of Target.
Time will tell if this boycott will have an even much bigger impact on the company, much like Bud Light’s did, going as far as to cause a 30 percent drop in sales and send shares crashing.
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