Current Events > I'm extremely upset by this Target Pride Month backlash

(+) Yeah! (+)

This is really horrifying and depressing how successfully the right has established their culture war nonsense.

Half the elected officials saying that recognizing LGBTQ people is an act of hatred and war against children and most people. Half the voters nodding along and cheering, spewing that hateful rhetoric out in public.

We LGBTQ people are absolutely fucked if the GOP takes over.

people gotta vote

otherwise the chuckleheads decide everything and they eat horse paste

VampireCoyote posted...

people gotta vote

otherwise the chuckleheads decide everything and they eat horse paste

What if we can't outbreed the chuckleheads tho

The absolute best solution to this is to cancel Target

Raikuro posted...

What if we can't outbreed the chuckleheads tho

dont need to

most of them dont vote either

There have been bomb threats and death threats towards Target. So many people in this country are completely unhinged

It's sickening. They're screaming "think of the children" but it's really just an excuse to act on their bigotry through threats and violence.

Weird how they think a rainbow flag can turn kids gay, but "straight" symbols/media/etc can't turn gay kids straight.

UnsteadyOwl posted...

It's sickening. They're screaming "think of the children" but it's really just an excuse to act on their bigotry through threats and violence.

Always has been. "Think of the children" has always been an excuse so they can push through some really abhorrent laws and regulations, knowing that anyone who speaks out against the law will be accused of "hating children", which is political and social suicide.

shockthemonkey posted...

Corporations were never on our side, they just wanted our money. But its super disheartening that (at least they believe) giving in to bigots is more profitable. That sure as hell doesnt say good things about where society is at.

Yeah that's true. They only care about their bottom line.

[LFAQs-redacted-quote]

Yeah I don't think Target sells Pride stuff out of the goodness of their heart, but like why the fuck do people care? Because they're pandering? Retail and advertising has never been anything but pandering! I guess these bigots legitimately think these companies give a fuck about Christmas and the military and whatever when they pander to those things. Even grocery stores are just selling things to fill a market.

Pro-capitalism people really hate capitalism, it seems

What I don't get is why it gained traction recently. LGBT stuff has been promoted for years but it's not till recently that cancel culture seems to be effecting it heavily

I've seen so many idiotic cohorts going on and on about Target this, Budweiser that. But none of them will say anything about the church lol.

The right want to end pride month period.

That said I live in a red state, a blue part of a red state, and I have noticed a shift. Five years ago there were a lot of life events in my area, some promoted even my cities in the area, community centers, libraries, parks and the like, but last year and this year? None. The shift happened very quickly.

Every year I am more and more scared some huge attack will happen at a pride event in June. None happened last year, hopefully none will happen this year but the rhetoric is getting worse by the day and I just feel like its a matter of time.

It is scary, it is depressing and it is only going to get worse. Especially if a republican wins in 2024.

You could push to boycott Target, or something.

Gobstoppers12 posted...

You could push to boycott Target, or something.

That will clearly stop the right wingers from threatening violence against LGBTQ community or the employees of companies that work for them.

VampireCoyote posted...

people gotta vote

otherwise the chuckleheads decide everything and they eat horse paste

But I shouldn't have to vote. If I stand in line, I could pass out from heat exhaustion. The GOP is just going to steal my vote anyway. This country is fucked and I won't push a button to try and save it.

/millennial logic

ScazarMeltex posted...

That will clearly stop the right wingers from threatening violence against LGBTQ community or the employees of companies that work for them.

What's your solution instead?

VampireCoyote posted...

people gotta vote

otherwise the chuckleheads decide everything and they eat horse paste

It's tough to get people excited when the choices are status quo, and regression into authoritarianism.

[LFAQs-redacted-quote]

Yeah but I mean one at a huge pride event. There was also that Drag show attack a few months ago. I just have a feeling something far worse is about to happen.

Mentality is so quickly turning worse and worse by the day

This is just racism under a different name and it's fucking ridiculous how many people feel like they have the right to dictate how other people are allowed to LIVE

I boycotted Target a long time ago when I applied for a job there but never heard anything back. Havent even been in one since then. I went on to get a Bachelors of Science degree and have a good job now. But I guess I wasnt good enough to work at Target. What does this have to do with the topic? Nothing, I just like being petty like that on Target.

ScazarMeltex posted...

That will clearly stop the right wingers from threatening violence against LGBTQ community or the employees of companies that work for them.

Just a reminder that Gob has gone on record in the past as saying trans people who are offended or hurt by Dave Chappelle and J.K. Rowling need to "quiet down".

https://nypost.com/2023/05/25/target-loses-8b-in-week-since-boycott-calls-over-pride-collection/

Money talks. If they're actually losing 8 billion a week because of certain merchandise, why wouldn't they remove it? Corporations are here to make money. If they're losing money it's a no brainer.

No one has to go to target to get t-shirts with LGBT slogans on it. They should have known offering children's clothes with that would cause an uproar. Now they'll have not only conservatives boycotting, but LGBT people as well.

I bet numerous people were fired over this.

TMOG posted...

Just a reminder that Gob has gone on record in the past as saying trans people who are offended or hurt by Dave Chappelle and J.K. Rowling need to "quiet down".

*tags accordingly*

And here I just thought he was a closet furry.

creativerealms posted...

Yeah but I mean one at a huge pride event. There was also that Drag show attack a few months ago. I just have a feeling something far worse is about to happen.

Patriot Front tried last year but because the chuds have no concept of operational security and their planning sessions are always infiltrated by law enforcement, they got arrested the instant they showed up.

TMOG posted...

Just a reminder that Gob has gone on record in the past as saying trans people who are offended or hurt by Dave Chappelle and J.K. Rowling need to "quiet down".

Thanks for the heads up, already had him tagged as sus.

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An election's outcome brought this about. People didn't threaten gun violence over pride shirts before Trump became president and emboldened bigots. A future election could be the thing which shows the futility of hatred in the modern world.

FortuneCookie posted...

People didn't threaten gun violence over pride shirts before Trump became president and emboldened bigots.

Well that's not true

Gobstoppers12 posted...

What's your solution instead?

Boycott companies boycotted by anti-LGBTQ bigots to....

Antifar posted...

Well that's not true

Klan membership spiked. White supremacists became emboldened. There is absolutely a one to one equation with Trump being responsible for this. If he hadn't become president, this topic wouldn't exist.

[LFAQs-redacted-quote]


The fuck you talkin' about?

LeoRavus posted...

https://nypost.com/2023/05/25/target-loses-8b-in-week-since-boycott-calls-over-pride-collection/

Money talks. If they're actually losing 8 billion a week because of certain merchandise, why wouldn't they remove it? Corporations are here to make money. If they're losing money it's a no brainer.

No one has to go to target to get t-shirts with LGBT slogans on it. They should have known offering children's clothes with that would cause an uproar. Now they'll have not only conservatives boycotting, but LGBT people as well.

I bet numerous people were fired over this.

So should all of us LGBTQ just fucking die or something because anything including us will lose money? Just cut ourselves off from general society because bigots will slaughter us in public?

I'm starting to think Earth was a mistake.

"People should no that recognizing LGBTQ people in public is going to result in violent backlash!"

[LFAQs-redacted-quote]


No, I'm not lying.

Before Trump, there were anti-LGBTQ individuals. After him, there were anti-LGBTQ people with guns threatening violence. That's what happens when a figurehead speaks hatred. Bigots become organized.

This could not have happened ten years ago. There might have been a call for a boycott, but it wouldn't have been this effective. Nor would we have likely seen stores under open threats of violence. It's absolutely the result of a bigot being in a position of high authority and speaking words that enable and empower bigotry.

FortuneCookie posted...

No, I'm not lying.

Before Trump, there were anti-LGBTQ individuals. After him, there were anti-LGBTQ people with guns threatening violence. That's what happens when a figurehead speaks hatred. Bigots become organized.

This could not have happened ten years ago. There might have been a call for a boycott, but it wouldn't have been this effective. Nor would we have likely seen stores under open threats of violence. It's absolutely the result of a bigot being in a position of high authority and speaking words that enable and empower bigotry.

It's not Trump it's social media. You could see things moving this direction before Trump was elected. Social media amplifies voices that wouldn't normally be amplified, and makes outrage easier for groups to run with.

Also it isn't just on the right. There are plenty of instances of people on the left saying to boycott things a well. It's just much easier to do that with social media where it's at now.

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And I suppose it's a lie to say that Reagan is responsible for the economic situation we're in?

You tell me why this is happening if it's a lie to say that a bigoted president emboldened bigots. You tell me why a successful boycott could be launched today and not ten years ago. You tell me why we've had pride merchandise for years and only now are people starting to threaten violence because of it.

Where did that come from? It wasn't here a decade ago -- not to this degree.

I don't shop at Target and will continue not doing so