Republican attorneys general issue warning letter to Target about Pride merchandise

Posted on by under Bits 'n Pieces, education, Political commentary, Pride Month, Racism & Bigotry, Re-blogs, Social commentary

When I first read this on Scottie’s Playtime I literally saw red. I was so incensed … still am, for that matter! What the Sam Hell is wrong with people??? I have half a mind (no comments on that, please!) to write a letter to each of these Attorneys General and let them know just what I think of their narrow-minded, shallow, unconscionable bigotry! Grrrrrrrrrrrr … Anyway, please click on the link in the first paragraph of Scottie’s post to read the actual letter … if this doesn’t get your dander up, then nothing will. Thank you, Scottie, for sharing this and raising our blood pressure into the stratosphere!

Scottie's Playtime

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/republican-attorneys-general-issue-letter-to-target-about-pride-merchandise/

Seven U.S. state attorneys generalsent a letterto Target on Wednesday warning that clothes and merchandise sold as part of the company’s Pride month campaigns might violate their state’s child protection laws.

Republican attorneys general from Indiana, Arkansas, Idaho, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri and South Carolina signed the letter, writing that they were “concerned by recent events involving the company’s ‘Pride’ campaign.”

The attorneys said that they believed the campaign was a “comprehensive effort to promote gender and sexual identity among children,” criticizing items like T-shirts that advertised popular drag queens and a T-shirt that said ‘Girls Gays Theys.’ They also highlighted merchandise with “anti Christian designs such as pentagrams, horned skulls and other Satanic products.” 

The letter also criticized Target for donating to GLSEN, an LGBTQ+ organization that works to end bullying in schools based on sexual and gender identity. The company stated in a 2020 guide that…

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43 thoughts on “Republican attorneys general issue warning letter to Target about Pride merchandise”

  1. Jill, what these attorney generals fail to realize is how poor this action makes them look. It is a means of distraction from more important issues, but to be frank, like the Florida governor’s attack on Disney, this is truly a very unwise move. It is making a huge deal out of an issue bringing attention to the very thing they want to squelch. It is akin to trying to ban books, when people can easily order them online. The book banning is telling people what they should read.

    Anytime movie producers wanted to promote attention to a movie, they could easily make it controversial. Unwittingly, these attorney generals have done the same thing. I am more inclined to shop at Target’s as a result. As Mark Twain is alleged to have said, it is better to let people think you are a fool, than speak and remove all doubt.

    Keith

    Liked by 3 people

    • And it is people’s tax dollars at work. I wonder how those AG’s constituents feel about that? I know how I feel about my state’s AG using our money to tilt his windmills…pressure into the stratosphere, indeed!

      Liked by 1 person

    • While I agree that it makes them look poor in our eyes, in the eyes of people who cherish democracy, it seems to elevate them to the Republican base. The GOP appears to applaud bigotry in all its forms nowadays. As re book banning … I never thought about it, but you’re right! Banning a book is only going to make people more determined to read it!

      Like you, I’m more likely to shop at Target more often now, and I ordered a Bud Light in a restaurant a couple of weeks ago … I’m not much of a beer drinker and have always preferred Coors, but I ordered a Bud Light to make a statement … and it tasted pretty good!

      Liked by 1 person

  2. It’s almost amusing if not infuriating how much energy is spent on this when the simple common sense thing to do about something you don’t like or agree with is to just ignore and not buy it.

    Liked by 4 people

    • Yes, it does infuriate me, but you’re right … in one sense, were it not people’s lives at stake, it might be amusing to see full-grown adults so scared of a community that they play these stupid games. I’m still at a complete loss as to why anybody thinks it’s their business who another person loves!

      Liked by 3 people

  4. Everyone gets so upset about stupid things. Not only the GOP but people like Scottie & you too. Who cares if Target sells this clothing? Who cares if they don’t?

    I wouldn’t put my child (or grandchild) in such cheap, ugly clothing anyway. Nor would I dress my child in any kind of logo, including the Pride logo.

    There’s SO many other things that matter! These culture wars DO NOT matter! In another 5-10 years, nobody is going to even remember these things or even think about them.

    The earth is burning up! Wake up!

    Liked by 2 people

    • So … are you saying it’s stupid for people like me, Scottie, and a few million others to stand up for people who are being discriminated against? Frankly, I would proudly wear one of the rainbow shirts.

      People matter, Polly. You say there are “SO many other things that matter”. Sure there are, but first and foremost, PEOPLE MATTER, no matter whether white and straight, black, trans, gay, women, Hispanic … ALL people matter and when one group is discriminated against for no reason whatsoever other than religious bigotry, then it’s time we used our voices to support them. Supporting the LGBTQ community AND advocating for renewable energy to try to save the planet are not mutually exclusive … WE CAN DO BOTH!

      Liked by 1 person

      • Just how are people being discriminated against by Target (or any other retailer) not selling these clothing? How are their human rights being adversely affected? Explain it to me.

        This whole thing is being blown out of proportion on both sides. Target is a private company & has the right to sell whatever it wants to sell.

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        • Ah, but Target did sell Pride merchandise, which is what upset these Attorneys General. I saw it myself and was happy to see the Pride display at the front of the store, despite the intimidation by the religious zealots. What I’m not happy to see is public servants taking a private business to task because they support the rights of the LGBTQ community.

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          • I agree with you totally. Still, how did taking down the display constitute discrimination? It just doesn’t. Yeah, Target caved to the religious zealots but doing that STILL doesn’t discriminate against the civil rights of anyone. You can go ANYWHERE else & buy those clothing. You can go online & buy those clothing. You can be your proud queer self & not wear rainbow clothing AT ALL. What you wear has NOTHING to do with your civil rights or anyone else’s civil rights. This is ALL a side show to keep people fighting amongst each other & at each other’s throats & not paying attention to what is REALLY going on.

            Liked by 3 people

            • The only real magic is distraction. The entire trick involves getting you to look over there so that you don’t see what is happening here. It is very very effective. A sale often uses similar techniques. It is an art. Everyone has a button that when found and pushed sets off a reaction. Libs are no more easily triggered than Conserves.

              Liked by 1 person

            • Not all Target stores did … ours continued to have a Pride display and merchandise throughout June, and I was proud of that. But to your point … I guess the way I see it is that a minority of bigots got their way in forcing some Target stores to put away their Pride displays by destroying property, threatening violence, etc. If we allow this to continue … imagine where it could go? Just since the SCOTUS ruling in June, I’ve seen at least three bigoted business owners refusing to sell to or provide service to LGBTQ people. When it starts, it’s hard to stop the momentum, and that’s not the direction this country needs to go. Whatever happened to the open arms concept where one and all were welcome here? Now we shun not only immigrants, but our very own children?

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              • How do people refuse service to ANYONE? How do you tell that someone is gay? or lesbian? or bi? If you met me on the street, would you know that I’m bi? How does someone know this? How would you refuse service to me?

                I get not allowing transwomen into girls & women’s changing rooms & bathrooms … transwomen are men & while all men are not predators, all predators happen to be men. & while the mantra insists that transwomen are women, lets face it , they are not. The prefix “trans” is there FOR A REASON. Their feeling like they’re “really women” shouldn’t trump the reality that they’re really men & it shouldn’t trump the very real feelings of actual women … like we don’t matter.

                But I digress. Just how do people refuse service to someone who’s gay or lesbian or Bi? Are they wearing signs that say that’s what they are? Because all my gay & lesbian & bi friends look like ordinary people … because THAT’S WHAT THEY ARE.

                Liked by 1 person

  5. Ms Jill (stern face) this is how bullies work! Never let them see you sweat. These are toothless threats delivered by blowfish. I have heard that various Republican organizations have run out of money. Florida state government is going broke defending the loser governor and in turn losing almost every battle. If money is power they are on the road to impotence. The tiniest point presents the ballon the most peril.

    Liked by 2 people

    • Oh I’m not sweating, Mr. Richard … I am spitting bullets! I’m sick and tired of the arrogance among people in this country to think that one person is ‘superior’ to another because of the colour of their skin, their gender, or who they love. It’s just … wrong! There are much more important things for these Attorneys General to be doing than picking on a company because they sell merchandise to LGBTQ people!

      Liked by 2 people

    • To some extent, that’s probably true. They point to a perceived ‘enemy’, spend all their time ranting and carrying on about how that ‘enemy’ is destroying the nation, and it keeps people from focusing on what’s going on behind the curtain.

      Liked by 3 people

        • Works doesn’t it, Ms Jill? Not quite accurate Ms. Flotta. Russia is not an enemy nor are Russians. Putin is not my enemy, he is a businessman and IMO an easy mark due to his arrogance. Business still goes on between Russia and the USA.
          I relish competition. Every battle offers opportunity, to savor the victory or learn from the loss. The tides can keep you in harbor or rush you out to sea. The wise mariner advantages both.

          Liked by 2 people

          • How am I not accurate?
            Nobody cares if Russia/Putin ain’t your personal enemy, for official America, and most of the populace they are. Same as China. And business might not go on for much longer, Russia emancipated itself and is now one of the very few self contained countries on Earth that can do completety without western bizniz. they have better friends in the east.

            Russians are fukn angry and tired of being shat upon, so they’re going their own way now.
            Once softee Putin is gone and his hardliner successors take over, they might do a hard divorce from the west. I know I would.

            Liked by 1 person

              • No, you didn’t. And I’ve asked nothing. Who’s Dick?

                In case you too thicc to grasp my stance, here I’ll make it plain for you: America = Shit – Russia = Cool. Ok?

                Liked by 2 people

                • I recommended “How to Win Friends and Influence People” by Dale Carnegie to the first person that questioned my reading ability. You might find it useful too.
                  Kak is, in the real world, quite valuable and useful and Siberia is melting, just saying.
                  I named myself Dick when I started high school. It is not a name borne by sensitive people. Phones in those days were one to a house and my mom further toughened me by asking any friends that called “Big Dick or Little Dick”. She was hard she married a Dick.

                  Liked by 1 person

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