Republican, Democratic Lawmakers React on Target's Woke Controversy

Republicans and Democrats in the US Congress voiced their perspectives on Target's recent scandal over the retailer's reversal of Pride products, which has drawn much criticism.

An insider source said numerous rural Target shops in South Carolina, Arkansas, and Georgia moved their Pride areas to avoid customer protest. LGBT advocacy groups, such as the National Black Justice Coalition, criticized Target's decision to move the goods and found it "deeply disappointing."

Republican senators from Florida and Kentucky, Marco Rubio and Rand Paul, expressed worry about companies preying on youngsters, Fox News reported. Rubio underlined that although businesses are entitled to express their opinions, saturating families with Pride items created especially for kids can result in a severe backlash from the general population.

The lawmaker emphasized the difference between individual freedom and corporations' impact on children. Rubio noted that consumers are upset about Target Pride goods because they target children. "Do not ram it down kids' throats," he said.

Paul agreed, expressing his displeasure with Target's behavior and intention to stay away from the business.

Pride Polarized The US

Senator Joe Manchin, a Democrat from West Virginia, said he was less aware of the Target woke controversy. He still used the occasion to state how divided Congress was. He emphasized the need to stick together and pick the "American side" instead of being compelled to take a position in the present political environment.

A Republican senator from Louisiana, John Kennedy, advised businesses to avoid becoming involved in politics and to maintain their impartial stance.

Marketers have been caught off guard by the changing landscape of gender issues, as seen by recent consumer outrage against Bud Light and Target, debates around drag queens and the Los Angeles Dodgers, and complaints against using male models in Adidas women's swimwear, The Washington Times reported.

Pride Month, formerly celebrated as a sign of solidarity with a historically oppressed group, is today linked to divisive issues like medicalized gender changes for children, sexually explicit textbooks, and transgender athletes in female sports.

According to Trent Talbot, the president, and CEO of the conservative publishing business Brave Books, people, particularly parents, are tired of Pride Month being pushed on kids.

Since its results announcement on May 17, Target's stock has fallen by 19%, while the S&P 500 Retail Index has down by 7%. However, rather than the retail company's support for LGBTQ customers and proponents, the fall is linked to broader retail and consumer concerns, per CNN. Consumers' buying habits have changed due to rising prices and inflation, especially for middle-class families.