Target has decided to remove certain LGBTQ products from its shelves after customer backlash arose upon the rollout of its Pride Collection in early May.
The giant retailer is now pulling out some products under the Pride Collection, which includes roughly 2,000 products like books, mugs, and clothing.
Target To Remove Some LGBTQ Products
As per Associated Press News, Target is now pulling some LGBTQ items from its shelves, which debuted in time for Pride month in June. The move comes after hostile reactions from some of its avid customers emerged, leading to violent confrontations among its patrons and employees.
The giant retailer started selling its Pride products in May, a month before the annual Pride month kicks off in June.
According to the BBC, the Pride collection launched over 2,000 LGBTQ products.
Some items that caught customers' attention are the children's book titles, such as "I'm Not a Girl" and "Bye Bye, Binary." The "gender fluid" mugs and calendars called "queer all year" also gained popularity. The collection also offers shirts with "love is love" statements alongside rainbow-colored options.
CNN reports that Target has long been celebrating the annual Pride festivities by releasing a collection of LGBTQ offerings. But this year, anti-LGBT folks have become more hostile with increasing violent confrontations amongst consumers and retail staffers. And as such, it is removing some Pride collection offerings off the shelves for 2023.
Target Customers vs. Pride Collection
Target says, "[we have] experienced threats impacting our team members' sense of safety and wellbeing while at work" since the Pride collection hit the shelves. So to protect the welfare of their workforce, the giant retailer is pulling some LGBTQ items.
Target spokesperson Kayla Castaneda told CNN that Target is removing these items from all its US stores and online. However, the retailer did not disclose which Pride collection items are affected by its decision to pull out some products.
It is worth noting that Target's decision is not unprecedented. The backlash comes after the most popular US beer brand, Bud Light, faced widespread boycotts from anti-trans folks and right-wingers, slumping in sales for several weeks until now. The conservative uproar started after Bud Light collaborated with sensational transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney.
Besides Target, another giant retailer, Walmart also dished out many LGBTQ products in time for the Pride month festivities. The clothing juggernaut H&M also launched its LGBTQ line.
Despite that customer backlash, Target clarifies that its Pride collection is still available. Yet, some products have been pulled out to protect its workforce from violent confrontation.
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