Target stores continue to be embroiled in controversy with one Houston customer being prevented from purchasing a book.
Earlier this week I brought readers the news of the backlash against Target from customers and politicians due to its Pride Month celebration.
This has been an ongoing story and I bring the latest developments that have occurred in Houston, Texas, in the last day or so.
A quick recap
Each year for the past ten years, Target stores across the United States have installed massive June Pride Month displays to celebrate the month.
This year the celebrations featured merchandise including "tuck friendly" bathing suits for transgender people, mugs that say "gender fluid," and books for children aged 2-8 titled "Bye Bye, Binary," "Pride 1,2,3″, and "I'm not a girl."
But the displays have sparked outrage in a few southern states forcing Target to act.
According to Fox News, "some southern Target stores were forced by the corporation to move LGBTQ Pride merchandise away from the front of their locations after customer "outrage" to avoid a "Bud Light situation."
"For more than a decade, Target has offered an assortment of products aimed at celebrating Pride Month. Since introducing this year’s collection, we've experienced threats impacting our team members’ sense of safety and wellbeing while at work. Given these volatile circumstances, we are making adjustments to our plans, including removing items that have been at the center of the most significant confrontational behavior. Our focus now is on moving forward with our continuing commitment to the LGBTQIA+ community and standing with them as we celebrate Pride Month and throughout the year."" Target statement
Outspoken Texan Senator Ted Cruz took aim at Target. On his podcast, he accused them of targeting children with inappropriate products.
Cruz also seemed to take pleasure in an article stating Target had lost $9 billion in market value since angry social media users called for a boycott of the retailer over its rollout of the "PRIDE" collection.
Houston reacts
Target's Willowbrook location in Houston was one of the locations that moved its Pride merchandise.
An employee at the location told the Chron "Unfortunately, specific items they decided to send back, but we still have some Pride stuff out," adding that "some of the items aren't as 'out there' as the other ones."
The employee stated that they thought the decision was handed down from Target's regional office.
One customer, Sara Broussard has recounted their story to the Daily Beast of trying to buy a book ABC—Deconstructing Gender at the Target store on Shearn Street in Houston.
“There was a Pride section that had just been set up, and it was one of the things in the middle of the main aisle. I saw it, and it’s really cute the way it’s illustrated and it caught my eye.” Sara Broussard
Broussard checked the book was agre appropriate for her children, however when Broussard tried to buy the book she was told the book had been recalled and she was unable to purchase it. Even the Target clerk was confused as to why the book has been recalled.
Broussard could find no mention of a recall online and took to TikTok to get an explanation.
Your thoughts
Do you agree with the decision by Target? Do you believe retail businesses should celebrate Pride Month? Will this decision influence whether you shop at Target? Do you agree with Texas Senator Ted Cruz? Should Broussard have been allowed to purchase the book?
Please leave your thoughts on the issue in the comment section below and share this article on social media and with others so more people can join the discussion and give their views.
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