In today’s Dallas Voice, I wrote an article about the unofficial Target boycott.
I’m not boycotting, but I haven’t been shopping there either, at least until something is resolved.
Yes, the president of the company apologized, but no, he didn’t do anything to show his remorse. The fact that he just hired right-wing Sen. John Thune’s former chief of staff said to me that the donation and sudden sharp turn to the right was intentional.
While researching the story, I stopped by Target in Oak Lawn. In the article I wrote:
Employees at Target at Cityplace refused to say whether or not their business has been affected but told this reporter to leave the store.
Here’s what happened: I approached an employee who did not have any customers nearby. I identified myself as a reporter and said I was working on a story about the boycott of Target. I asked if she’d noticed any difference.
“You need to get out of here now,” she said.
I thanked her and told her she would appear in the paper. And regardless of whether the boycott ends with a happy resolution, I probably won’t be going back to Target anytime soon.
The incident was really no big deal, but it seemed to indicate how on edge everyone at Target is about the issue.
David Ethridge, a gay Dallas man who’s been going after Target, had a lot more to say than what I included in the story.
“I’ve heard several people attempt to defend Target by pointing out its past benevolence to our community,” Ethridge said.
“Here’s the thing: I may help you move or give you a ride to the airport, but if I’m poisoning your tea behind your back, then I’m not your friend. What Target did was short-sighted and indefensible. Its leadership should act like adults, apologize, and make it right, so we can all go back about our business.
“Hundreds of thousands of people have pledged to take their fair-minded money elsewhere, but it’s too early to know what impact that will have long-term. The biggest advantage that Target had over competitors Like Wal-Mart and Kmart was image. The company’s image has been very carefully cultivated with millions of dollars in slick ads and designer collaborations over the years to appeal to a more style-conscious and progressive value shopper. The long-term detriment to the company may lie in the damage to that image.
“Effective social media is crucial to retailers in today’s economy. Target’s Facebook and Twitter pages have been a complete wreck for weeks, with customers screaming back-and-forth at each other. The company’s consumer reviews on sites like Google Maps have taken a dive as well.
“Back-to-school is Target’s second-busiest season. But instead of promoting those products, or their new collections from Shaun White and ‘Punky Brewster,’ they’ve been forced to constantly defend their political contributions. They have to ask themselves if this is all really worth some imagined benefit on a future tax form.”
So what do you think? Are you boycotting? Waiting and seeing? Can’t afford to shop elsewhere since Target generally has the lowest overall prices? Don’t have patience to run all over town to other stores? Or is Target not that convenient to you anyway? And what about Best Buy? We don’t shop there as often, but the LGBT community tends to be loyal Best Buy customers.
NOTE: I just got an e-mail from Paul Schmelzer, editor of the Minnesota Independent. I like to give credit when we know who to credit and Paul broke the story about Tom Emmer and his connection with Bradlee Dean and the Christian band You Can Run But You Cannot Hide. Dean’s the one mentioned in the print article that thinks Muslims have it right with putting gays to death.
Well I have decided to Boycott Target. I think it is a shame that a company that boosts about its diversity and about how they treat their LGBT employees, will go and contribute to a politician who is anti-gay for “better business” reasons. Now if you read his note to the employees it is really just an empty apology to them… It really is not honest or sincere. It almost seems like it written by a lawyer to try to sooth troubled waters. Despite the fact he also talks about their HRC ranking, which they have been dropped by the HRC. I know that company’s now have the right to align themselves to whichever political party they desire, but I think that company at the same time needs realize who their shoppers are. I mean to align yourself with a politician who’s best friend agrees with the philosophy of ridding the world of homosexuals, and who boosts his anti-gay policy makes me wonder how gay friendly that company truly is.
I have tons of other options before Target but I was looking for discount yoga wear online last night. Guess who was the cheapest? That’s right.
I don’t shop at Target so I gave money to Tom Emmer’s opposing candidate. If everyone who is boycotting would take $20 and donate against the Target candidate it would be nearly $1.5 million (based on Facebook count). Beating Target’s money ten-fold. Protests are find, but it is the money that counts.
i definitely boycott target and best buy. they are funding bigotry as a tool to sway people into voting for a candidate who’s interest is taking money out of the pockets of middle America, and putting it into the pockets of the rich. They leverage homophobia and hate to get homophobes and bigots to vote for a candidate, who will in the end – screw them too. Classic Republican strategy, all the way back to the ‘Southern Strategy’ of the past.
We shouldn’t support corporations who want to undermine democracy with fear mongering and hate.
I have also decided to boycott Target, even though I have a card there that I use regularly and I live in a rural area, so its one of the only stores around. Since the campaign donation story broke, the only reason I have had to step foot into a Target is to pay my bill and that will be the only money Target gets from me unless they actually make this right. I haven’t determined for myself what “making it right” would entail, but I know it hasn’t happened yet. Target CEO’s “apology” was more of an “I’m sorry I got caught and everyone got mad, but I’m not sorry I did it” which isn’t really an apology at all. I’m also boycotting Best Buy, but since I only ever stepped foot in their stores around the holidays, its much easier to avoid giving them my money.
But …where o where am I going to buy my crew socks?
Fred, sometimes the most effective ideas are the simplest and most direct. Thanks for that.
And Jack, you’ll get your socks from the same rag pile you get the rest of your wardrobe. Hope that helps.
Has anyone thought about the fact that they might be backing him for other political views? Most politicians do not match every singles views. the nation has so much to worry about such as the economy. We cannot choose our leaders soley based on their stance on gay people.
I haven’t been to Target since the news broke. I can go to Home Depot and get excellent assistance from my friend, Ms. Lesbian! At least Home Depot openly supports us.
Yes, Rex, most of us HEARD the CEO try to explain away their corporate donation as a business decision not a social one. Unfortunately, I DON’T believe a ‘favorable corporate tax climate’ (or other ‘considerations’) is more important than social responsibility and human decency. And if the CEO believes otherwise I can’t respect him as a human being nor as a savvy corporate decision-maker. Target IS a pleasant alternative to WalMart and I’ve almost always enjoyed my shopping experiences there. But if they can’t see a way to bribe their favored politicians without endorsing bigotry and hatred, they won’t be MY alternative.
Cutting up my Target card tomorrow at the protest! (Canceling my account today to match.)
I find it interesting that a reader mentions “for other other political views”. Seriously? Sadly, I guess I’m not really surprised – the mighty dollar has forever been more important than the equality between human beings. For me – it’s about Target and Best Buy being 2 faced liars… you can’t say you support GLBT and give to someone who hates GLBT – My boycott may only be a small dollar in a big pile, but I can sleep at night knowing my money didn’t support hate.
Rex, Target says they support him for his business stance, but that business stance in itself is anit-union and anti-employee. Even on that basis, the guy’s a loser. The only reason working people have decent wages in this country is because of unions, and as they’ve lost their power, the gap between the rich and poor grows.
But why should Target or other corporations get involved in politics anyway? That’s the ridiculousness of it – until the Supreme Court ruled corporations have the same right of political speech as human beings, this situation couldn’t have happened. Now we see Target’s true political stripes.
I grew up in Minnesota, near Target #2. Now in my mid 40’s, it pains me to no end to have lost my shopping partner from childhood. I appreciate a genuine apology, and generally gladly accept them and move on, but in this case, there is FAR too much to lose. What concerns me is that if we were to substitute “GLBT” for ANY other minority (African American, Jewish, Hispanic, Catholic, Woman) our society would be coming off the hinges.
Until Target makes a commensurate gesture to correct their initial action, I’m not setting foot in a Target (or a Best Buy, although they lost me on Customer Service ages ago).
I agree with Rex. Look at he website, Mnforward is a political action committee that supports candidates from both parties who will adopt a plan for private sector job creation and economic growth in Minnesota. It shows how much out of the loop of so much of the gay community is when they follow the lead of the Daily Kos, and Moveon.org. I accept the CEO’s explanation.The candidates receive money if they support MnForward goals. He wants a better business climate for Target. We all have better lives if our economic problems are taken care of. If the Gay community continues to give all their support to leftist causes, I shudder to think what is going to happen to our energy based economy here in Texas. The political left wants to end the oil and gas industry in our part of the world Wake up folks, Do not blindly follow Moveon.org or Daily.Kos. Look at some other news sources and get the facts.
I definitely have boycotted and so have just about everyone I know who gives a crap about what’s going on. Human rights, environmental issues, proper representation in government… I’m hoping that we just keep on boycotting all the jerks. The Koch Brothers have been busy for quite some time (Georgia Pacific, Big Oil) They have been manipulating things and contributed much more than a mere $150,000 towards funky candidates. I’m also going to boycott Wells Fargo. Those of us in the 98% who have no power and little cash need to bind together and stick this thing out. It’s a perfect revolution since voting isn’t working. The only thing that sociopathic corporations believe in is cold hard cash… so… let’s keep our loose change for ourselves and give it only to socially aware locations.
to fellow LGBT texans brothers and sisters you are not alone not by a long shot from coast to coast north and south even canadians are in full support of you and our struggle it will be a fight that we cant afford to lose right now on facebook at boycott targets fan page we are close to 75,000 members and its growing daily we corordinate what to do about everything that affects us and there are straight christian people there to we are all working for common goals if you are LGBT and or straight and your concerned where our countrys headed then please join us we would love to see you there!
I’m a Minnesotan, and have shopped at Target since my teen years (the 80’s), but started my own boycott a couple of weeks before the connection between Emmer and the Christian anti-gay rock group appeared. He’d already come out with some bizarre comments about waiters making $100K per year… I’d say anyone goofy enough to think that, much less SAY IT ALOUD TO A REPORTER, is de facto too stupid to run anything, and I include the State of Minnesota in that category.
What I don’t get though, is how little we’ve seen in the press about the CEO’s personal donations to Michele Bachmann ($10K from him and his wife!). His so-called apology was that modern type: apologize for the fact that some people’s feelings were hurt (esp. customers’ feelings, and useful employees’ feelings), but not for the fact that your action was plain old WRONG in itself! He should have apologized for donating to a homophobic numbskull– that would have meant something.
Looking for a link to the Steinhafel family donation, I discovered that it’s even worse than I’d thought: the whole upper echelon at Target seems to be right-wing creeps! I’d been thinking I might return to Target if they dumped Greg Steinhafel, but now I realize that they’d have to fire all the top management, so I guess my personal boycott will last for the rest of my life.
https://www.theawl.com/2010/08/real-america-target-doesnt-support-gay-equality-because-it-never-did
Tom, just so you know, MNForward donated to the democratic candidates only after the brouhaha over the donation to Emmer developed. It does not appear they had any real intention of supporting democratic candidates until they had to cover their imaginary butt (and Target’s Supreme Court created butt) for the Emmer donation.
I have shopped at Target for years and years and given Target gift certificates as a gift to many people. I haven’t stepped in a Target since the boycott began. My daughter means too much to me to do so. I did go in to Best Buy, but only to use up a gift certificate.
And I gave an extra contribution to Michele Bachmann’s opponent, Tarryl Clark, using the money I saved by not shopping at Target.
Target already has lost some business from me.
Add me to the list of people who don’t go to Target anymore….and I used to be a big Target shopper…I would shop and stop only when my basket was full.
Forget it, they aren’t getting any of my money.
And I also went into Best Buy, only to use up old reward dollars…but I’m done with them too.
Thank you for several good, well written articles regarding Target and Best Buy The more facts I know the better decisions I can make regarding my actions. At this time my decision is to not shop at Target and Best Buy. I am no longer a fan of theirs.
What other businesses make political contributions that I should know about?
Haven’t been to Target or Best Buy since all this started and I won’t until if and when they change their policies.
Haven’t been to either, don’t normally buy anything from Best Buy anyways. But posting scathing reviews on Google Maps, what a great idea!!