The governor of the largest state in the country is lashing out on Twitter at the CEO of Target over its decision to remove some of its “Pride” collection products.
On Tuesday night, California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) tweeted, “CEO of Target Brian Cornell selling out the LGBTQ+ community to extremists is a real profile in courage.”
“This isn’t just a couple stores in the South. There is a systematic attack on the gay community happening across the country. Wake up America,” he continued.
Finally, the tweet took a bizarre, fearmongering turn as Newsom claimed, “This doesn’t stop here. You’re black? You’re Asian? You’re Jewish? You’re a woman? You’re next.”
CEO of Target Brian Cornell selling out the LGBTQ+ community to extremists is a real profile in courage.
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) May 24, 2023
This isn’t just a couple stores in the South. There is a systematic attack on the gay community happening across the country.
Wake up America.
This doesn’t stop here.… https://t.co/1vRgukaT0g
Fox News reported on Tuesday that Target locations in mostly rural areas are relocating their annual Pride sections to avoid criticism from conservatives.
According to the outlet, “A Target insider said there were ’emergency’ calls on Friday and some managers and district senior directors were told to tamp down the Pride sections immediately.”
A source told the network, “We were given 36 hours, told to take all of our Pride stuff, the entire section, and move it into a section that’s a third the size. From the front of the store to the back of the store, you can’t have anything on mannequins and no large signage.”
And in a statement, the retail giant said it has “experienced threats impacting our team members’ sense of safety,” and is “making adjustments to our plans, including removing items that have been at the center of the most significant confrontational behavior.”
Target has come under fire after images of its “tuck friendly” LGBT-themed swimwear line with “extra crotch coverage” came to light. The Hill notes those swimsuits “allow trans women who have not had gender-affirming operations to conceal their private parts.”
At the same time, it was revealed the company is selling apparel from Abprallen, a London-based designer that sells some products accused of featuring Satanic imagery. One shirt sold by the designer states, “Satan Respects Pronouns.” Meanwhile, a badge states, “Trans Witches For Abortion.”
Target is not selling those products. However, it is selling three products from Abprallen. One is a sweatshirt that reads, “Cure Transphobia, Not Trans People.”
Why did @target hire a Satanist to design pieces for their recent "Pride" clothing line?
— Scarlett Johnson (@scarlett4kids) May 20, 2023
WTF??"Satan loves you and respects who you are… LGBTQIA+ people are so often referred to as being a product of Satan or going against God's will, so fine. We'll hang with Satan instead." pic.twitter.com/FLsNZNzHNa
Any threats against Target stores are reprehensible and should be condemned. The employees and managers are just working there trying to make a paycheck — they don’t deserve threatening comments. And nor do the company’s executives.
But Target put itself in a position of stirring up outrage by deciding to move beyond just its rainbow-colored “Pride” products for June, to selling products with a pro-transgender message.
Conservatives would groan about the company joining in with the seemingly obligatory homage to “Pride Month.” Yet you did not see the same outrage and pressure for a boycott. That seemed more like the typical corporate attempt to placate the LGBT community.
But the new products, combined with the company’s history of selling “chest binders” — designed to flatten breasts to make someone appear more masculine — have led conservatives to call for a boycott of the retailer.
It is not an attack on the gay community. The outrage is in response to a specific issue. It is a backlash to the company joining the push to normalize transgenderism amid a heated debate around transgender athletes and the effects of medications and surgeries used to transition, especially when it comes to children.
Target could have avoided this altogether if it just stuck to its typical “Pride Month” plans. But instead, it decided it would be a good idea to sell sweatshirts about curing “transphobia.”
So no, Newsom, Black, Asian, or Jewish people are not “next.”
