In a stunning display of intolerance, Target faced boycotts and threats, labeled as economic terrorism, after launching its LGBTQ Pride collection. The retail giant lost $9 billion in market value within a week due to the backlash, forcing them to remove items that have been at the center of the most significant confrontational behavior.
Prominent University of Michigan professor and public policy expert, Justin Wolfers, likened the backlash against Target to literal terrorism, stating that these aggressive tactics to control corporate policies were “quite scary.” Meanwhile, some queer and transgender designers have also blamed “domestic terrorists” for the removal of products from Target’s shelves.
Ironically, it seems that the alleged bomb threats to Target stores in three states were for relocating the Pride collection or removing LGBTQ products, not for including the clothing in the first place. In a leaked memo, Target CEO Brian Cornell expressed his heartache at seeing what employees have had to confront in store aisles.
As our society continues to grapple with issues of tolerance and acceptance, the boycotts and threats against Target serve as a glaring reminder of how far we have yet to go in supporting diversity and inclusion. The word “terrorism” may be a strong term, but it conveys the urgency needed for us to address this unsettling societal issue head-on.
