Gay Rights Scandal Hurts Target Expansion

Target missed the mark. The popular everything-store donated $150,000 to a business group. No biggie...except that the group supports Minnesota govenor candidate Tom Emmer (R), a well known opponent of gay-marriage.

Now gay rights groups are mad. MoveOn.org, a bi-partisan political organization, has organized a boycott against the company.

"I won't shop at Target until they STOP spending money on elections!" reads MoveOn.org's online petition.

The Human Rights Campaign also issued a boycott, calling on Target to issue money to pro-equality candidates as an acceptalbe form of apology.

Sadly, we know that there are groups out there that don't mind Target's anti-equality support and the boycott might not make an impact. EXCEPT the gays got sneaky - they used their influence in San Francisco, a notoriously gay-friendly city government, to block Target's expansion into the city.

Bevan Dufty, a San Francisco Board of Supervisors Representative and candidate for the city's mayor, warned yesterday, "Target's political contributions... supporting a virulently homophobic Minnesota gubenatorial candidate and their pathetic explanation will not go away." Dufty continued to state that until Target shows an act of apology, he will not support Target's presence in the city.

Now Target is listening. Target's CEO Gregg Steinhafel issued this apology on their site:

The intent of our political contribution...was to support economic growth and job creation. While I firmly believe that a business climate conducive to growth is critical to our future, I realize our decision affected many of you in a way I did not anticipate, and for that I am genuinely sorry.

Then target set a goal:

Going forward, we will soon begin a strategic review and analysis of our decision-making process for financial contributions in the public policy arena. And later this fall, Target will take a leadership role in bringing together a group of companies and partner organizations for a dialogue focused on diversity and inclusion in the workplace, including GLBT issues.

Aaaaaah, the power of mobilization and action!