CEREMONY AND THE NORTHPORT MAYOR
TOLD US "WE EMBRACE EVERYONE."
>>> AS PRIDE MONTH KICKS OFF,
SOME BIG CORPORATIONS ARE
FINDING THEMSELVES AT THE CENTER OF CONTROVERSY WHEN IT COMES TO
THEIR SUPPORT OF THE LGBTQ
COMMUNITY.
IT’S BECAUSE OF RENEWED EFFORTS BY SOME TO HOLD COMPANIES
ACCOUNTABLE ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY
SPONSOR PRIDE MONTH ACTIVITIES.
>> Reporter: AFTER INTENSE
BACKLASH AND THREATING FROM SOME SHOPPERS, TARGET PULLED CERTAIN
ITEMS FROM ITS PRIDE MONTH MERCHANDISE DISPLAYS.
THE COMPANY CITING SAFETY
CONCERNS FOR THEIR STAFF SAYING
GIVEN THESE VOLATILE
CIRCUMSTANCES WE’RE MAKING
ADJUSTMENTS TO OUR PLANS,
INCLUDING REMOVING ITEMS AT THE
CENTER OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT
CONFRONTATIONAL BEHAVIOR.
NOW AS NEW YORK CITY GEARS UP
FOR PRIDE MONTH CELEBRATIONS,
INCLUDING THE ANNUAL PRIDE
MARCH, THE HEADS OF NYC PRIDE
ARE PUSHING TARGET TO CHANGE COURSE.
TARGET IS THE FOUNDING SPONSOR OF YOUTH PRIDE EVENTS.
ANDRE THOMAS, CO-CHAIR OF NYC
PRIDE, SAYS WHILE THEY
UNDERSTAND THE RISKS POSED TO
STORE EMPLOYEES, THEY’RE
TROUBLED THAT TARGET CONCEDED TO A SMALL GROUP OF BAD ACTORS.
>> WE THINK IT SETS A BAD
PRECEDENT FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO
TRY TO BOYCOTT PRIDE.
>> Reporter: THE CONFRONTATIONS
IN TARGET STORES COME AS STATE
LEGISLATURES INTRODUCE A RECORD
NUMBER OF BILLS TARGETING LGBTQ PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
THE ACLU IS TRACKING NEARLY 500
ANTI-LGBTQ BILLS IN THE UNITED
STATES. LAWS THAT WOULD VIOLATE CIVIL
RIGHTS, FREE SPEECH AND ACCESS
TO HEALTH CARE.
>> THIS IS NOT ABOUT
MERCHANDISE.
THIS IS ABOUT CRUEL AND
COORDINATED ATTACKS AGAINST
LGBTQ PEOPLE.
>> Reporter: ZAIN IS AN
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF POLITICAL
SCIENCE AT FORDHAM UNIVERSITY.
HE BELIEVES TARGET AND OTHER
COMPANIES OFTEN TRY TO PROFIT
OFF OF PORTRAYING THEMSELVES AS
SOCIALLY PROGRESSIVE AT A TIME WHEN AMERICAN CONSUMERS SAY THEY
ARE TWO TIMES MORE LIKELY TO BUY
OR USE A BRAND IF THE COMPANY PUBLICLY SUPPORTS EXPANDING AND
PROTECTING GAY RIGHTS.
WE’VE SEEN THAT BACKFIRE AFTER A
TRANSGENDER INFLUENCER PROMOTED
BUD LIGHT EARLIER THIS YEAR,
CONSERVATIVE COMMENTATORS CALLED
FOR A BOYCOTT, SALES SLUMPED
NEARLY 30%, AND THE COMPANY PUT
TWO EMPLOYEES ON LEAVE.
>> IF I COULD SPECULATE ABOUT THE REMEDY, IT WOULD BE TURNING
THE FOCUS AWAY FROM BRANDING,
RAINBOWS AND IDENTITY AND MORE
ON UNIVERSAL ISSUES.
>> Reporter: NYC PRIDE SAYS
TARGET WILL REMAIN A YOUTH PRIDE SPONSOR, IT’S COMMITTED TO
HOLDING CORPORATE SPONSORS
RESPONSIBLE, EVALUATING
COMPANIES MAKING SURE THEY’RE
COMMITTED TO THE WORK YEAR-ROUND
AND NOT JUST DURING THE MONTH OF PRIDE.
>> IT SHOWS COMPANIES WHO ARE NOT JUST ACTIVATING IT IN JUNE
BUT ARE REALLY WORKING WITH US