Target Limits Sales of Pride Merchandise Amidst Backlash and Controversy

Minneapolis, Minnesota United States of America
Last year, Target faced criticism and boycotts over LGBTQ-themed items, including a 'tuck-friendly' women's swimsuit.
Other retailers have also faced backlash over their LGBTQ-themed products, including Disney and Best Buy.
Target has announced it will only sell Pride merchandise in select stores and online this year due to backlash and controversy.
Target has been a vocal supporter of the LGBTQ community but faced threats against employees and stores last year.
Target reported a net income of $1.38 billion in its fourth quarter last year despite a drop in sales revenue during Pride month.
The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) criticized Target's decision as alienating the LGBTQ community.
Target Limits Sales of Pride Merchandise Amidst Backlash and Controversy

Target, the retail giant, has announced that it will only sell Pride merchandise in select stores and online this year. The decision comes after a backlash against the company last year for selling LGBTQ-themed items, including children's clothing.

According to reports from multiple sources, Target will base its decision on historical sales performance. Last year, the retailer faced intense criticism and boycotts over its Pride merchandise. Some of the controversy centered around a women's swimsuit described as 'tuck-friendly,' which was marketed as concealing male genitalia.

Target has been a vocal supporter of the LGBTQ community for many years, but last year's controversy marked a significant shift in public perception. The company faced threats against its employees and stores, leading to some locations removing the merchandise from display.

The decision to limit Pride merchandise sales is not unique to Target. Other retailers have also faced backlash over their LGBTQ-themed products, including Disney and Best Buy. The controversy comes as several states, including Florida, have passed laws restricting discussion of sexuality and gender identity in schools.

The Human Rights Campaign (HRC), a leading LGBTQ advocacy group, has criticized Target's decision. HRC President Kelley Robinson said in a statement that the move is 'disappointing and alienates LGBTQ individuals and allies at the risk of not only their bottom line but also their values.'

Target's CEO Brian Cornell called threats against the company and its employees 'gut-wrenching' last year. The controversy led to a drop in sales revenue during Pride month, with more than 5% decrease in the quarter. However, Target still reported a net income of $1.38 billion in its fourth quarter last year, which is 58% higher than the previous year.

The controversy over LGBTQ-themed merchandise is part of a larger cultural backlash against the community. Conservatives have called for boycotts of brands that advertise specifically to LGBTQ people or marginalized communities. The latest target (pun intended) has been Bud Light, which partnered with transgender TikTok star Dylan Mulvaney for a social media contest.


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Confidence

85%

Doubts
  • Are there any specific reports on the historical sales performance of Target's Pride merchandise?
  • Were there any other factors contributing to the controversy aside from the LGBTQ-themed items?

Sources

94%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Target is dialing back on Pride merchandise after right-wing backlash

CNN News Site: In-Depth Reporting and Analysis with Some Financial Conflicts and Sensational Language Jordan Valinsky Friday, 10 May 2024 11:00
  • Unique Points
    • Target is limiting the number of stores selling LGBTQ-themed merchandise for Pride Month following a boycott from right-wing activists last year that affected the brand’s bottom line.
    • This year, Target will sell only Pride-themed ‘adult apparel’ and home goods in select stores based on historical sales performance; about half of its 2,000 stores will sell the Pride collection.
    • Last year, Target pulled Pride merchandise from some stores after facing threats against its store workers and social media posts with video from inside stores.
    • Prominent right-wing activists, Republican political leaders, and conservative media outlets focused their attention on a women’s swimsuit described as ‘tuck-friendly’, leading to misinformation that it was marketed to children.
  • Accuracy
    • No Pride apparel for children will be sold.
    • Last year, Target faced backlash for selling trans-oriented products and was accused of selling them to children.
  • Deception (80%)
    The article reports on Target's decision to limit the sale of Pride merchandise in select stores based on historical sales performance. While the author does not make any editorializing or pontificating statements, there are instances of selective reporting and emotional manipulation. The article focuses on the backlash from right-wing activists and their impact on Target's bottom line, but it fails to mention that Target has a long history of supporting the LGBTQ community during Pride Month. This omission creates an incomplete picture and potentially misleads readers into thinking that Target is abandoning its support for the community. Additionally, the article quotes statements from critics of Target's decision, such as the Human Rights Campaign and Kelley Robinson, which may be intended to elicit an emotional response from readers. However, these statements do not provide any new information or insights and serve only to manipulate emotions.
    • The Human Rights Campaign fired back, releasing a statement saying that selling Pride merchandise ‘means something’...
    • About half of its 2000 stores will sell the Pride collection, according to Bloomberg...
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

76%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Target says Pride collection will appear in 'select' stores, cuts LGBTQ apparel for kids

NBC News Digital Friday, 10 May 2024 18:25
  • Unique Points
    • Target will sell Pride merchandise in a select number of stores and on its website this year.
    • No Pride apparel for children will be sold.
    • Target has publicly supported the LGBTQ movement since a controversy involving its CEO’s donation in 2010.
  • Accuracy
    • Target is limiting the number of stores selling LGBTQ-themed merchandise for Pride Month following a boycott from right-wing activists last year.
    • Last year, Target faced backlash for selling trans-oriented products and was accused of selling them to children.
  • Deception (30%)
    The article reports on Target's decision to limit the sale of LGBTQ-themed products in select stores and not sell Pride apparel for children. The author uses emotional manipulation by stating 'last year's firestorm over its decision to sell products designed for transgender people.' This implies that there was a negative reaction from the public, which may evoke an emotional response from readers. The article also engages in selective reporting by only mentioning the controversy surrounding Target's sale of Pride merchandise for children and not providing any context about why this decision was made or what specific products were being sold. Additionally, the author quotes a conservative media personality making a derogatory statement about the LGBTQ community, which may be seen as editorializing.
    • The retailer said Thursday that it would be selling its Pride merchandise in a select number of its nearly 2000 stores and on its website this year, citing 'historical sales performance.'
    • Tomi Lahren wrote on X on Friday. 'Target won’t be pumping every store with pride crap this year and that’s a win.',
    • Some conservatives celebrated the company's announcement to dial back this year's collection.
  • Fallacies (85%)
    The author makes an appeal to authority by quoting Kelley Robinson, the president of the Human Rights Campaign, expressing her disappointment with Target's decision. This does not constitute a logical fallacy on its own but reduces the score due to the presence of an appeal to authority.
    • ][Kelley Robinson, the HRC’s president] said in a statement on Friday that ‘companies need to understand that community members and allies want businesses that express full-hearted support for the community.’[[
    • ‘Target’s decision is disappointing and alienates LGBTQ individuals and allies at the risk of not only their bottom line but also their values,’ she said.
  • Bias (80%)
    The article reports on Target's decision to limit the sale of LGBTQ-themed products in some stores and not sell such products for children. The author uses language that depicts those who disagree with this decision as 'conservatives' and 'some shoppers', implying that they hold extreme or unreasonable views. This is an example of bias.
    • conservatives celebrated the company's announcement to dial back this year's collection.
      • Target was also falsely accused of selling ‘satanic’ children’s clothes, further alienating some conservative shoppers.
      • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication

      84%

      The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
      (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

      A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

      Target Limiting its Pride Collection After Backlash Sent Sales Slumping Last Year

      National Review James Lynch Friday, 10 May 2024 15:14
      • Unique Points
        • Target is cutting back on its LGBT Pride month collection following consumer backlash.
        • Last summer, Target faced boycotts for selling LGBT Pride items including transgender-oriented bathing suits and children’s items from a brand that also sells Satanist-inspired merchandise.
        • Target will be holding internal LGBT Pride events and joining Pride events in Minneapolis.
        • The company will also be donating to left-wing LGBT activist organizations.
        • Some customers confronted Target employees about the LGBT merchandise and knocked down displays, resulting in threats to team members’ sense of safety and well-being.
        • Bud Light sales continued to lag in the first quarter of 2024 due to a boycott triggered by an advertisement featuring a transgender influencer.
      • Accuracy
        • The retailer will only be selling LGBT merchandise in select stores based on historical sales performance.
        • Last summer, Target faced boycotts for selling LGBT Pride items including transgender-oriented bathing suits and children's items from a brand that also sells Satanist-inspired merchandise.
        • Target’s stock nosedived and the company lost billions in market value due to conservatives calling for a boycott of the retail chain because of its Pride merchandise.
        • Some customers confronted Target employees about the LGBT merchandise and knocked down displays, resulting in threats to team members’ sense of safety and well-being.
      • Deception (30%)
        The article by James Lynch contains selective reporting and emotional manipulation. The author only reports details that support the narrative of consumer backlash against Target's LGBT Pride merchandise, while omitting any information about the positive sales or customer reactions to these items. Additionally, the author uses emotionally charged language such as 'volatile circumstances' and 'confrontational behavior', which manipulates readers into feeling negatively towards Target and its customers. There is no clear deception regarding facts or statements made by James Lynch himself, but the selective reporting and emotional manipulation lower the overall integrity of the article.
        • Given these volatile circumstances, we are making adjustments to our plans...
        • The retailer will only be selling its LGBT merchandise in select stores...
        • Last summer, Target's stock nosedived and the company lost billions in market value...
      • Fallacies (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Bias (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication

      93%

      The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
      (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

      A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

      Target selling Pride Month merchandise online and in ‘select stores’ after pushback

      The Hill News Site: https://thehill.com/homenews/senate-seethe-republicans-call-for-israeli-elections/ Lauren Irwin Friday, 10 May 2024 16:34
      • Unique Points
        • Target will only sell Pride Month merchandise online and in 'select stores' this year
        • Historical sales performance determined which stores will carry the merchandise
        • Gen Z, which includes 30% of this demographic identifying as LGBTQ+, wants businesses that express full-hearted support for the community
      • Accuracy
        • About half of its 2000 stores will sell the Pride collection.
        • Last year, Target faced backlash for selling trans-oriented products and was accused of selling them to children.
      • Deception (80%)
        The article reports on Target's decision to only sell Pride Month merchandise online and in 'select stores' this year due to backlash from customers. The author does not provide any editorializing or pontification in the passage provided. However, the article does contain selective reporting by focusing on the controversy surrounding Target's Pride Month merchandise and ignoring any positive aspects of their support for the LGBTQ+ community. Additionally, there is a quote from Kelley Robinson that implies facts without linking to peer-reviewed studies or disclosing sources, stating '30 percent of Gen Z identifies as part of the LGBTQ+ community.' This statement may be true but it is not backed up by any evidence in the article.
        • 30 percent of Gen Z identifies as part of the LGBTQ+ community.
        • The company was criticized for carrying 'tuck friendly' women's swimsuits that allow trans women who have not had gender-affirming surgery to conceal their private parts, The Associated Press reported last year.
      • Fallacies (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Bias (95%)
        The author uses language that depicts one side (anti-LGBTQ groups) as extreme or unreasonable by describing their actions as 'intense backlash' and 'violent confrontations with workers'. The author also quotes the Human Rights Campaign President stating that Target's decision is 'disappointing and alienates LGBTQ individuals and allies', implying that those who support Pride merchandise are not extremist or unreasonable. This demonstrates a bias towards the pro-LGBTQ side.
        • Robinson said Pride merchandise means something. ‘Target’s decision is disappointing and alienates LGBTQ individuals and allies at the risk of not only their bottom line but also their values.’
          • Several Southern stores moved the collections to the back after shoppers confronted the retailer about it. Then, Target received backlash from customers who were upset about the moves, arguing that the company gave into the anti-LGBTQ groups opposed to the clothing.
            • The company was criticized for carrying ‘tuck friendly’ women’s swimsuits that allow trans women who have not had gender-affirming surgery to conceal their private parts, The Associated Press reported last year.
            • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
              None Found At Time Of Publication
            • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
              None Found At Time Of Publication

            77%

            The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
            (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

            A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

            Target Will Not Sell Pride Merchandise in Half Its U.S. Stores This Year

            Them Samantha Riedel Friday, 10 May 2024 15:39
            • Unique Points
              • Target will not stock Pride merchandise in half of its U.S. stores this year.
              • Anonymous sources spoke to Bloomberg News that Target’s decision is based on ‘store-level data.’
              • The full catalog of Pride-themed items will be available online.
              • Target confirmed the decision will be based on ‘historical sales performance.’
              • CEO Brian Cornell called threats against Target and its workers ‘gut-wrenching’ last year.
              • Target experienced a drop in sales revenue during Pride month last year, with more than 5% decrease in the quarter.
              • Target reported a net income of $1.38 billion in its fourth quarter last year, which is 58% higher than the previous year.
            • Accuracy
              • The decision will be based on historical sales performance.
            • Deception (30%)
              The article contains selective reporting as it only mentions the dip in sales caused by conservative boycotts and harassment last year without mentioning the increase in sales during that period. The author also uses emotional manipulation by describing the threats of violence and intimidation against Target workers as 'gut-wrenching'. Additionally, there is a lie by omission as the article fails to mention that Target's sales revenue still saw a massive jump in net income during the quarter that included Pride month last year.
              • The withdrawal comes nearly a year after Target’s 2023 Pride lineup attracted the ire of anti-LGBTQ+ conservatives, particularly pundit Matt Walsh of The Daily Wire, who falsely claimed Target was marketing ‘tuck-friendly’ swimwear to children (swimwear which was, in fact, only sized for adults).
              • But despite the backlash, Target still posted a massive jump in year-over-year net income in its fourth quarter last year, reporting a net income of $1.38 billion – 58% higher than the year prior.
              • The propaganda quickly escalated into threats of violence, as multiple Target stores received bomb threats, and workers said they experienced physical threats and intimidation.
            • Fallacies (80%)
              The author makes an appeal to authority by referencing anonymous internal sources and historical sales performance. The author also uses inflammatory rhetoric by describing the actions of anti-LGBTQ conservatives as 'bigotry' and 'intolerance'.
              • “store-level data.”
              • “historical sales performance.”
            • Bias (80%)
              The author uses language that depicts the conservative opposition to Target's Pride merchandise as extreme or unreasonable. For example, she describes their actions as 'harassment', 'threats of violence', and a 'larger anti-LGBTQ cultural backlash'. She also implies that these individuals are 'fringe activists' who are trying to censor Target.
              • conservatives revived the boycotts last December over Pride-themed Christmas tchotchkes, and infamously declared Bud Light to be a ‘woke’ beer after the company partnered with transgender TikTok star Dylan Mulvaney for a social media contest.
                • With big-name brands cowering in the face of right-wing intolerance, it’s enough to make you swear off rainbow capitalism altogether.
                • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
                  None Found At Time Of Publication
                • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
                  None Found At Time Of Publication