7 AGs Slam Target for Promoting ‘Pride Campaign’ to Kids

Attorneys General Criticize Target for Pushing LGBTQIA+ Products on Children

Seven attorneys general, led by Indiana Republican Attorney General Todd Rokita, signed a letter to Target’s top boss blasting the company for pushing “LGBTQIA+ promotional products” and gender identity on children.

Concerns Raised by the Attorneys General

The letter, dated yesterday, focuses on Target’s Pride Month display and its support of a pro-transgender organization. It was addressed to Brian Cornell, the Chairman and CEO of Target Corporation, and co-signed by Missouri AG Andrew Bailey, Mississippi AG Lynn Fitch, Arkansas AG Tim Griffin, Idaho AG Raul Labrador, Kentucky AG Daniel Cameron, and South Carolina AG Alan Wilson.

“As Attorneys General committed to enforcing our States’ child-protection and parental-rights laws and our States’ economic interests as Target shareholders, we are concerned by recent events involving the company’s ‘Pride’ campaign,” the letter begins.

The letter goes on to say the officials are specifically concerned about the “promotion and sale of potentially harmful products to minors,” as well as “potential interference with parental authority in matters of sex and gender identity” and a “possible violation of fiduciary duties by the company’s directors and officers.”

Products Highlighted in the Letter

The letter specifically highlights several products sold by Target during Pride Month. The AGs claim the company “wittingly marketed and sold LGBTQIA+ promotional products to families and young children as part of a comprehensive effort to promote gender and sexual identity among children.”

• A shirt that read “homophobe headrest” next to a picture of a guillotine
• A shirt that read “transphobe collector” alongside a picture of a skull
• A shirt that read “we bash back” next to a mace that bore the colors of the transgender pride flag
• A product from the “Abprallen” brand that included the phrase “Satan Respects Pronouns” with a horned ram representing Baphomet
• Swimsuits with “tuck-friendly construction” and “extra crotch coverage”

Concerns about Target’s Support of GLSEN

The AGs also addressed Target’s support of the Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network (GLSEN).

“GLSEN furnishes resources to activists for the purpose of undermining parents’ constitutional and statutory rights by supporting ‘secret gender transitions for kids,’” the letter charges.

Alleged Negligence and Economic Impact

The attorney generals note that Target’s Pride campaign and support of GLSEN raises concerns “under our States’ child-protection and parental-rights laws.” But they also contend that the corporation’s actions may have gone “against our States’ economic interests as Target shareholders.”

“​​Target’s directors and officers may be negligent in undertaking the ‘Pride’ campaign, which negatively affected Target’s stock price,” the letter states before going on to note, “it may have improperly directed company resources for collateral political or social goals unrelated to the company’s and its shareholders’ best interests.”

“Directors and officers must act solely in the best interest of the company. But you have reportedly defended the campaign as “the right thing for society,” the letter to Target Chairman and CEO Brian Cornell charges.

The company received severe backlash from would-be customers after dropping its Pride Month product lineup, resulting in its share prices dropping for longest streak in nearly five years.

“Transanity doesn’t sell,” Attorney General Rokita said. “Let’s all unite around pride in America instead of falling into the trap of dividing along lines of identity politics.”

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