An anti-woke group is targeting Dallas-based Southwest Airlines.
Dallas based Southwest Airlines is the latest business targeted for supporting the LGBTQ community.
A website has been launched, and a billboard erected along I-35 southbound in Burleson for 'Southwoke.'
The Dallas News reports a "website called “Southwoke” photoshops Southwest officials’ faces on people wearing rainbow-colored outfits and different hairdos. There’s a blog on the page that discredits the value of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and lists anti-diversity and anti-LGBTQ stances."
Southwest filed an internet domain complaint, but the website remains live.
"An arbitrator ultimately found the website was a parody and thus cannot be taken seriously. We do not agree; the person or persons behind the website and the billboard do not represent what we stand for as a company, and the content includes hurtful images and language. We continue to explore legal remedies while working to minimize awareness of the sensational content. Chris Mainz,spokesperson for Southwest
So far, no group has come forward to take credit for the website or the billboard.
Southwest, named on Forbes’ 2022 best employers for diversity in America list, is the latest company to be attacked for its initiatives.
Backlash against businesses
Last month Target stores across the United States installed massive June Pride Month displays to celebrate the month, 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."
Outspoken Texan Senator Ted Cruz criticized Target and accused the company of targeting children with inappropriate products.
The controversy at Target followed a similar theme to that of Bud Light which partnered with influencer and transgender activist Dylan Mulvaney for a recent campaign that resulted in a 23% drop in sales.
The campaign also angered Senator Cruz, who sent a letter to the Beer Institute this week, inquiring whether Anheuser-Busch's partnership with Mulvaney "violates the Beer Institute's guidelines prohibiting marketing to underage individuals."
A decline in sales led to the beer giant focusing on other marketing campaigns.
While both Target and Anheuser Busch backed down, it appears Southwest won't
Your thoughts
Do you believe the Southwoke website should be taken down? Are you glad Southwest is standing up to discrimination? Do you believe retail businesses should celebrate Pride Month? Do you agree with Texas Senator Ted Cruz?
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