Is Target Still Funding Anti-LGBT Politicians?

Is Target at it again? Y’all remember, way back in 2010 when the Target Corporation was forced to apologize after stories surfaced that it had funded campaign ads for anti-LGBT Minnesota gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer? And remember how Target kept saying they are big supporters of the LGBT community while giving big cash to Emmer and his ilk? Well, now it turns out that Target’s apology wasn’t real, and that Target is still giving money to anti-LGBT anti-gay candidates.

In fact, even during the same time period that Target was apologizing, the corporation donated some $31,200 to anti-LGBT candidates in that election cycle, and now we find out that Target is funding, albeit indirectly, the campaign of virulently homophobic Ken Cuccinelli in his bid to become Virginia’s next governor.

And this is how they do it: Target, in the first six months of 2013, contributed $50,000 to the Republican Governors Association, a group which has spent, wait for it because this is an example of the GOP’s new inclusiveness, almost $3 million on Cuccinelli‘s gubernatorial campaign. Now, to be fair, Target also gave $50,000 to the Democratic Governors Association, which is supporting Democratic candidate for governor of Virginia, Terry McAuliffe.

But, how does the LGBT community overlook Target’s money going in Cuccinelli‘s coffers? And should we look the other way? This isn’t about supporting Republicans or Democrats; it’s about giving money without a care as to where it goes, and to whom.

When the shiz hit the Target fan over the Emmer contributions, Target CEO Gregg Steinhafel apologized, then backed off his apology and then apologized again. Then Steinhafel promised to launch “a strategic review and analysis of our decision-making process for financial contributions in the public policy arena” and to start “a dialogue focused on diversity and inclusion in the workplace, including GLBT issues.”

It doesn’t sound like Target is coming through on that promise, but if they wanted to, they could begin donating only to those candidates who are LGBT-friendly, and deny support for those like Cuccinelli. But I hate that Target keeps calling itself a friend to The Gays when they are giving money to people who seem to have one goal, which is to deny us equality.

Of course, in damage control mode, Target spokeswoman Molly Snyder released a statement:

Target’s commitment to the LGBT community is long-standing and unwavering.       

We also believe strongly in our civic responsibility to engage in a bipartisan manner at the state and federal level in order to learn about public policy priorities and advocate on issues that affect our business, such as fairness legislation. One of the ways we do this is through membership in both the Democratic and Republican Governors Associations, both of which include several hundred other corporate members.  When paying for our memberships, we explicitly require that our dues not be used for any individual electoral campaigns or other electioneering efforts. It would therefore be wrong and inaccurate to associate our membership dues with any particular political candidate or campaign.

This sounds like a heaping pile of ignorance to me. Target is saying that they give money, in the form of membership dues, to both sides, and yet require that their monies not be used “for any individual electoral campaigns”.

That’s kinda hard to do, Target. You can’t hand someone a check for dues to their organization and then ask that the money not be given to certain parts of the group. Target is trying to play the Ignorance Card, but they know, as most folks know, that the GOP is still, by and large, and anti-LGBT political group so when you give them money—even for dues—you are paying for their candidates reelection and for their agenda.

Ignorance is n o excuse.

via  Right Wing Watch

Home Depot Won't Go Neutral

When I hear of a retailer with gay-unfriendly policies, or gay-unfriendly standards, I boycott those stores, and I make a point of telling people about those stores, and I blog about it, too.

Yeah, I'm lookin' at you, Target??

But what about those stores and businesses that are gay-friendly, and those stores and businesses that doesn't buckle under to demands that they be less than gay-friendly.

Case in point: Home Depot. It seems that for the last year or so--and I think it's longer--the inappropriately named American Family Association [AFA] has been begging, demanding, urging Home Depot to stop publicly backing, and at times appearing at, gay events, like Pride parades and such. But, for the last year or so--and i think it's longer--Home Depot has ignored the AFA. And they deserve a big gay round of applause. 

And they deserve our dollars, because the fight rages on, and the AFA isn't giving up; Randy Sharp, spokesbigot: "AFA focuses primarily on one boycott at a time. A successful boycott can take two or three years."

Well, then, maybe it is all over, since this one has about run it's course and Home Depot ain't budging: "Our response on this has been and continues to be that we respect the diversity of all people and maintain an inclusive culture. This is what [Chairman] Frank [Blake] told the AFA publicly at our annual shareholders meeting earlier this year." Suh-nap!

Now, I was gonna end there, but in reading the article further--and that's the link down there--I was floored to read that the AFA brags on its website that it has been on "the frontlines of America's culture war" since 1977, and the AFA insists that it has nothing against gays.

Seriously. it has nothing against gays, but it wants corporations to stop supporting the LGBT community, to stop marketing to the LGBT community, and stop coming to our parties. The AFA wants corporations to go Switzerland, that is, become neutral on LGBT issues. But Home Depot, and others, as you will see, won't go neutral. The Home depot, which i lovingly call The Homo Depot, realizes that there is a market out there, and it's called the gay community, and they want our business, and they should get it.

And so will Macy's, whose stores and logo have made annual appearances in New York's Pride parade. And so will Absolut, who has been advertising in gay publications for the last thirty.....yes thirty...years. And so will American Airlines, which has a Web page offering deals geared toward the LGBT traveler. And so will Subaru, who has been marketing their product to the gay community for the last decade, and was one of the first corporations to create custom commercials for LGBT channel, Logo.

But what about those gay-unfriendly corporations?

Well, Target CEO Gregg Steinhafel, who issued a public apology last year for their $150,000 donation to a Minnesota anti-gay group--a donation that angered Lady Gaga, who nixed a deal to sell a special edition of her albums through the chain--now says Target will stay "neutral" on the gay marriage debate.

Stay neutral. I'll shop elsewhere. Like Home Depot and Macy's, before getting in my Subaru and heading to the airport for my trip on American Airlines, where I'll have an in-flight Absolut and cranberry.


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Homophobes Are Stupid

FROTHY MIX IS NOT A HOMOPHOBE....GAYS JUST DON'T DESERVE EQUALITY 
Rick Santorum, AKA Frothy Mix--Google it and see what that means--who is running for presidential, which causes endless giggle fits around Casa Smallville, has come out--no, not like that--saying he supports a federal constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. Of course, this is the same Ric....Frothy Mix, that has said in the past that same-sex marriage is akin to having sex with dogs, and that it's "common sense" to keep gays from marrying and adopting children, who wants to reinstate the ban on gays in the military, and has said that gays shouldn't have the "privilege of government benefits" offered to heterosexual couples.

He says all that, and the says that he isn't a homophobe.

Oh, but'ch'are, Blanche, but'ch'are a homophobe.

As for his desire to federally ban marriage equality, he said

"I support a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage. I believe that marriage should be a consistent thing across the country. Marriage is the union of one man and one woman...Once people realize the consequence to society of changing this definition...it's gonna have a profound impact on society, on faith, on education. And once people realize that, they say, you know what, we respect people's right to live the life they want to lead but don't try to fundamentally change how society functions by changing that definition."

Hey Frothy, look at the recent polls where support for marriage equality is on the rise. I don't think there will ever be a Constitutional Amendment banning same-sex marriage, but I am working on an amendment banning you from opening your ignorant yap.

TARGET ISN'T ANTI-GAY, THEY LOVE EVERYBODY

Target CEO Gregg Steinhafel said: "Our position at this particular time is that we are going to be neutral on that particular issue [marriage equality and Minnesota trying to ban it], as we would be on other social issues that have polarizing points of view...We're a retail store, we welcome everybody...We have a broad team-member base, every shape and size and color. And so we are a very inclusive organization...We're going to continue to monitor, we're going to continue to assess, and see how that develops."

Um, Greg, you douchenozzle. You don't welcome everyone if you donate to anti-gay causes. That little act makes you anti-gay.

See, simple.

Now, if I were to, say, ask anyone who believes that Target is a discriminatory company that seeks to deny the LGBT community their rights, and I ask people to support a ban on shopping at Target, that would make me anti-Target.

Which I am.

See, I can admit being anti-Target, you should admit to being anti-gay, since you have given all sorts of money to anti-gay groups, without trying to cover your tracks with corporate rhetoric about business and inclusiveness.

You're not that dumb, are you Greg?

Anita Bryant 2.0
During the Eagle Forum Collegians 2011 Summit with Phyllis Schlafly, Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler of Missouri told ll those strapping young conservatives why they should oppose marriage equality, by trotting out that old chestnut that legalizing gay marriage is akin to legalizing pedophilia, that legalizing gay marriage would be like legalizing incest.

That legalizing gay marriage is exactly like letting a three-year-old drive a car.

Portia de Rossi DeGeneres, she's an idiot.

But here's Anita, er, Vicky, in her won words: 

"Some people say, why does it matter to you as a government official? I care about someone else, I'm committed, I should be able to marry. Well, think about it. That starts you down the road to opening up licensure to basically meaning that the license would mean nothing if you let everybody with that standard. For instance, if you just care about somebody and you have a committed relationship, why not allow one man and two women, or three women to marry? ....Why not allow group marriage? .... Why not allow an uncle to marry his niece? Why not allow a 50-year-old man to marry a 12-year-old girl if they love each other and they’re committed? .... It's not a right of anybody--of a 3-year-old to be able to drive a car."

Well, you can imagine that these comments sent Little Miss Vicky into damage control, and when asked to clarify her remarks, or if they were taken out of context, she said that they were indeed misquotes.

She meant to say letting thirteen-year-olds drive cars, not three-year-olds.

Oh, well, then......carry on. Dumbass.

BRYAN FISCHER'S ILLOGICAL LOGIC

Bryan Fischer, Executive Bigot of the American Family Association believes that the repeal of DADT will actually lead to the LGBT community fighting for it's reinstatement.

Dan Choi, say what?

See, Bry, and he loves to be called Bry when he ALLEGEDLY snuggles with his non-sexual life partner, says the repeal of DADT will cause fewer gays to enlist because we only enlist so we can use being gay as an excuse to get out of the military, and because we don't really want to be soldiers anyway.

Which makes perfect sense. To morons.

Then he says that the repeal of DADT will cause straight men and women to stop enlisting because they don't want to serve with the gays.

But, Bry, you said the gays would stop enlisting with the repeal of DADT so why would the straights mind serving if there are no gays in the military anymore?

Oh, that's right, you're an idiot.

Don't ask, it makes no sense to me either.

Target Is Still Funding Hate

I am still over the moon about the repeal of DADT. I feel like it's a giant step along the Yellow brick road toward full equality for LGBT Americans, and it gives me such hope for the future. A future when gay men can marry, or not marry, if they choose, a future where an LGBT person cannot be fired, or evicted, or discriminated against simple for being themselves.

Hope is good, until reality sets it. And reality has reared it's ugly head at Target again.

Y'all remember when Target got nailed for donating money to a PAC [Political Action Committee] that then donated money to a rabidly anti-gay politician, Tom Emmer, who then gave some of his money to a "Christian" rock band who believes the moral thing to do is Kill The Gays?

And, I'm sure you remember when Target apologized, to it's employees, and not the LGBT community, for it's donations. And then, in the face of continued boycotts against the corporate giant, Target CEO Gregg Steinhafel vowed to work with the Human Rights Campaign [HRC] to repair their tarnished image.  That is, until he changed his mind and stopped working with the HRC.

Now, according to documents filed with the FEC last October, comes the news that Target is still donating money to several anti-gay politicians, even after Gregg Steinhafel apologized, even after Gregg Steinhafel vowed to reform the corporate review process for future political donations. In fact, some of these anti-gay politicians cashing donation checks from Target are some of the same anti-gay politicians the company had already been criticized for supporting. 

It was back in August that Steinhafel released a statement, apologizing for how Target's decision had affected many "in a way I did not anticipate." In fact, Steinhafel also wrote that "… 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." 

In the fall.

Well, by October, Target was back to funding anti-gay politicians. 

The updated Federal Election Commission [FEC] database coughed up filings that Target has continued to make significant political donations, the majority of which went to anti-gay equality politicians. In fact, shortly after Gregg Steinhafel's August 5 mea culpa letter, Target's PAC recorded $41,200 in federal election activity. Of that total, $31,200 went to anti-gay rights politicians or PACs supporting those candidates. 

To be fair, I guess, supporters of gay equality did get some money: in September, Target PAC gave $1,000 to Chuck Schumer. Still, it seems a little lopsided though, doesn't it? Thirty-thousand to anti-gay politicians and just $1,000 to a pro-equality candidate. But, just to even things out, I guess, on the heels of that $1,000 to Schumer, Target PAC donated the same amount to Kelly Ayotte who opposes both gay marriage and same sex adoption.

Target PAC also donated money to Spencer Bachus, who voted to ban same-sex adoption, while in Michigan, David Camp, who supports a Constitutional Amendment banning same-sex marriage and voted against protecting gays from job discrimination based on sexual orientation, also reported money received from Target. All through the fall--and remember, it was Steinhafel who said Target would work through the fall with the LGBT community to repair its image--Target PAC donated thousands of dollars to Michael Crapo and Dave Reichert, both of whom support anti-gay Constitutional amendments, and Rob Portman, a supporter of banning gays from adopting. 

In addition, after Gregg Steinhafel's 'pledge,' Target PAC sent money to other PACs, like $8,500 to Every Republican is Crucial PAC, Freedom and Security PAC and the Majority Committee PAC, all three supporters of both Michele Bachmann and Roy Blunt. 

Way to work with the LGBT community Gregg!

But what is most sickening is that some of the very candidates Target was initially criticized over for donating to their campaigns back in July, namely John Kline and Erik Paulsen, is the idea that Target continues to fund both of these vehemently anti-gay equality candidates. 

Erik Paulsen, a former Target employee and a friend to Focus on the Family's James Dobson, recently voted against the DADT repeal, and has come out against classifying anti-gay attacks as hate crimes. 

John Kline, on the other hand, received the maximum donation possible from Target, some $5,000, back in September. Kline is, of course, anti-gay marriage, but he has also voted against prohibiting job discrimination based on sexual orientation and against treating anti-gay attacks as hate crimes. In fact, Kline goes above and beyond the call of bigot whenever he gets the chance. In 2009, John Kline added his name as a plaintiff to a lawsuit filed against the District of Columbia Board of Elections and Ethics demanding a voter referendum on banning gay marriage, signing alongside such homophobes and haters as John Boehner, Eric Cantor, John Boozman, and Michele Bachmann. 

Target sure knows how to pick 'em.

And, sad to say, when asked about these massive donations to anti-gay politicians, versus the thousand bucks to Chuck Shumer, Target has nothing to say. It seems that Target puts its money where its mouth is, and the LGBT ought to do the same by continuing a boycott of Target and all of it's anti-gay politicians.

We've made a step along the road toward full equality, with the repeal of DADT, but we need to continue to fight those who fight us. we need to stand up to those who choose to fund hate with our money. And let's be clear, if you shop at Target, you are donating money to anti-gay politicians, and I don't think you want that.

I think we want equality.

Now.

source

Target Apologizes.....To Its Employees

Target CEO Gregg Steinhafel finally apologized Thursday over a political donation to Minnesota Forward, a PAC that backed conservative Republican for governor, Tom Emmer. The donation angered many in the LGBT community, the straight community, and Target's own employees.

Steinhafel wrote to his employees to say that Target was "genuinely sorry" over the way a $150,000 contribution to MN Forward donation played out. Steinhafel said Target would set up a review process for future political donations.

As everyone should do, when donating money to any group or cause. Find out where it goes, and to whom.

Steinhafel said the contribution from the corporate treasury to a political effort, which until this year wasn't allowed, was designed to support Emmer's stance on economic issues, not social issues.

"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," Steinhafel wrote. "The diversity of our team is an important aspect of our unique culture and our success as a company, and we did not mean to disappoint you, our team or our valued guests."

Now, mind you, this was an apology only to Target employees, and not, directly, to the LGBT community, but I do think it has merit, and I do think we need to move on. Hopefully Target has learned that you cannot say you support our community and then give money to people and causes that seek to deny us basic civil rights.

We still, however, have not heard from other MN Forward contributors like Red Wing Shoe Company Inc., Best Buy Co., Pentair Inc., Hubbard Broadcasting Inc., Davisco Foods International Inc. and Polaris Industries Inc.

We'll be waiting.

Target Responds

So, Target has been in the news lately and on this blog a couple of times [HERE and HERE] for their $150,000 donation to Political Action Committee [PAC] called Minnesota Forward.

Minnesota Forward took some of that money and gave it to Republican gubernatorial candidate, Tom Emmer, who is virulently anti-gay.

Bad enough, right?

But then comes news that Emmer donated some of his money to a "Christian" rock band, fronted by one Bradlee Dean, who believes that killing gay people is the moral thing to do.

So, if you follow the money, it goes from Target to Dean, and stops in anti-gay candidate's coffers along the way, but Target CEO Gregg Steinhafel announced that Target's support of the LGBT community is "unwavering".

Really, Target? Really?

So, naturally I got a little angry and wrote a letter to Target corporate headquarters and, lo and behold, yesterday I received a response:

Dear Robert *******,
Target has long believed that engaging in civic activities is an important and necessary element of operating a national retail business. What's more important than any one candidate's stance on a particular issue is how we nurture thoughtful, long-term growth in the state of Minnesota.
To continue to grow and create jobs and opportunity in our home state, we believe it is imperative to be engaged in public policy and the political process. That is why we are members of organizations like the Minnesota Business Partnership, the Chamber of Commerce and many others. And that is why we decided to contribute to MN Forward.
MN Forward's objective is to elect candidates from both parties who will make job creation and economic growth a top priority. We operate best when working collaboratively with legislators on both sides of the aisle. In fact, if you look at our Federal PAC contributions year to date, you will see that they are very balanced between Republicans and Democrats. For more information please visit www.target.com/company, and view the Civic Activity page.
Target has a large stake in Minnesota's future, which is why it is so important to be able to provide jobs, serve guests, support communities and deliver on our commitment to shareholders. As an international business that is proud to call Minnesota home, it is critical that we have a business environment that allows us to be competitive. Our guests, team members, communities and shareholders depend on Target to remain competitive.
Thanks for taking the time to share your feedback.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Hanson
Target Executive
Offices
guest.relations@target.com

Interesting, no? Espeicially since Ms. Hanson, like Target CEO Gregg Steinhafel, never actually addreses the issue at hand: Target's money going directly into the hands of anti-gay politicians. So, I decided to write back

Dear Ms. Hanson,
I understand that target is free to donate money to any organization, or political candidate, or party, of its choosing. My problem, however, is that, as a gay man, when I see you giving money to a PAC that then funds an openly anti-gay politician, who then uses his money, and his praise, on a group that wants to "Kill The Gays" it leads me to question Target's alleged unwavering support for the LGBT community.
You say you want to do what is best for Target and your employees and your stores, but what about doing just what's best? What's right? What's equal? What's fair? You believe that "more important than any one candidate's stance on a particular issue is how we nurture thoughtful, long-term growth in the state of Minnesota," but I wonder how thoughtful Tom Emmer's stance on gay rights is, and how nurturing is his belief in a "Christian" rock band who wants to "Kill The Gays."
The answer is, it is neither thoughtful, nor nurturing. It's hatred and bigotry and intolerance plain and simple, and Target helped to fund it.
And, that, as you say is your right.
Well, it's my right to say I won't fund Target if Target wants to fund these types of candidates, of either party. It's my right to tell my LGBT friends and family to stay out of Target, and to write to Target and tell you why we're staying out of your stores.
You imply that it's just good business, doing what's best for the company, but you efforts at maintaining a good business could cost members of the LGBT community their lives.

Sincerely,
Robert *******

I would ask that every member of the LGBT community write to Jennifer Hanson, and let her know that, while we believe in being able to sponsor, and support, any group, candidate, or party, on their choosing, they cannot support people like Tom Emmer, and then still profess to be gay friendly.
Because they aren't.