US retail giant Target has reportedly removed some of its LGBTQ+ Pride merchandise from stores due to confrontations and objections from customers. While the company has not specified which items were removed, the “tuck friendly” women’s swimsuits, which can be used by trans women who have not undergone gender-affirming surgery, attracted scrutiny. Some Southern stores reportedly moved Pride merchandise displays to less visible locations, including the back of the store, due to threats of violence and abuse towards employees. The decision by Target has come as state legislatures have passed a record number of bills seeking to limit the freedoms of LGBTQ+ individuals, with almost 500 anti-LGBTQ+ bills introduced since the start of the year in the US.
Target said it is making adjustments to its plans for its 2021 Pride Month collection, including removing certain items, after employees reportedly faced threats of violence and abuse from customers. Videos on social media from TikTok showed Pride merchandise displays had been moved to less visible locations and sometimes to the back of the store. GLAAD, an LGBTQ+ rights organisation, said Target should not cave to fringe activists calling for censorship.
The move by Target has sparked controversy and fuelled the already divisive debate surrounding transgender issues in the US. Some customers, however, have welcomed Target’s decision, with some being upset about “tuck-friendly” swimsuits made to help trans women who haven’t had gender-affirming care.
Pride Month is celebrated throughout June in the US, and for the past 10 years, Target has been promoting a range of Pride-themed clothing, books, and furnishings. Target hired LGBTQ+ designers for their Pride collection last year, and its focus was on celebrating Pride Month and standing with the LGBTQ+ community.
It is unclear which items were removed and the nature of the threats against employees. Nevertheless, this is not the first time Target has faced criticism over products. Protesters have previously turned up at stores, and the online campaign #StopHateForProfit, which has seen a number of the country’s largest brands boycott Facebook, has also turned its attention to the retailer. Some Target stores in the US have ceased selling the book “Irreversible Damage: The Transgender Craze Seducing Our Daughters” by Abigail Shrier after complaints that the book was transphobic.
In conclusion, the issue surrounding Target’s decision to remove certain LGBTQ+ Pride merchandise highlights the growing divisiveness surrounding transgender issues in the US. As the country celebrates Pride Month, Target’s decision to remove the merchandise sparked controversy and opposition, with some welcoming the move while others criticising it. Nevertheless, the wider debate points to an urgent need for education and understanding to tackle the discriminatory attitudes towards transgender individuals and the LGBTQ+ community as a whole.
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