Target faces backlash for promoting trans-friendly slogans on T-shirts for kids
Shoppers are being urged to boycott Target in response to their Pride children’s collection, with an activist group accusing the retailer of “indoctrinating and grooming” young people, calling it “deeply inappropriate and disturbing.”
A former Target customer said the company “deserves the Bud Light treatment” — a reference to the boycott that came after Bud Light’s decision to partner with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney.
The disastrous marketing decision wiped $6 billion off the company’s value and saw sales plummet.
Target has been supporting Pride – which is celebrated throughout the month of June – every year since 2013.
This year’s collection features a range of clothing and homewares, including lime green rompers for adults with the word “gay” on the back; a ‘Live Laugh Lesbian’ t-shirt; and a mug emblazoned with the words: ‘Gender Fluid’.
However, it was the collection for children that provoked anger.
Target has sparked anger with its children’s collection, which Gays Against Groomers said was ‘deeply inappropriate and disturbing’
Target sells a “Bien Proud” baby bodysuit and rainbow tutu for kids
You can find this in the children’s section of @Goal. We recommend that you take your business elsewhere. They indoctrinate and groom them with the LGBTQ ideology. It is very inappropriate and disturbing.
We hope there are enough parents who understand how… pic.twitter.com/8g1UC41zAY
— Gays vs Groomers (@againstgrmrs) May 10, 2023
The Minneapolis-based company sells T-shirts for kids with the tagline, “Trans People Will Always Exist!”
It offers rainbow-striped tutus for toddlers for $13, and $10 babygros that read, “Bien Proud.”
The campaign group Gays Against Groomers led the outcry.
“Here’s what you’ll find in @Target’s kids section,” they tweeted.
“We urge you to take your business elsewhere. They indoctrinate and groom them with the LGBTQ ideology. It is highly inappropriate and disturbing.”
The group, founded last year in Wisconsin by Jaimee Michell, says it lobbies “against the sexualization, indoctrination and medicalization of children under the guise of ‘LGBTQIA+’.”
Critics, including the left-wing watchdog Media Matters, pointed out that Michell is a prominent MAGA supporter and known supporter of the QAnon conspiracy theories, celebrating the January 6 riot online.
Jaimee Michell, founder of Gays Against Groomers, is seen with Tucker Carlson
Michell was a staunch supporter of Donald Trump and his claims that the election was stolen, but has since switched her support to DeSantis
Gays Against Groomers hopes consumers will boycott Target in response to the clothing.
“We hope there are enough parents who understand how wrong this is and show them that this garbage will not sell,” they said.
“The only thing these people understand is money. Target deserves the Bud Light treatment. We’ll work to put pressure on them.’
Many of their 278,000 followers on Twitter agreed.
“TARGET deserves the BUD LIGHT treatment” Like and retweet…” said one woman.
We need serious people. Please help send a message to TARGET.’
Another added, “I said the same thing, make them feel the pin like #Budlight #BoycottTarget @Target. get this trash out of your store or feel the fire like #Budlight’
Target sells a T-shirt with the pronouns ‘she’
A man, who describes himself as an “Ultra MAGA Iranian-American father of two,” announced on Twitter, “I told my wife last night that we are no longer shopping at Target.”
Some said it was a pity.
Dang, was a huge fan of Target kids’ clothing. Used to be. Enough other children’s clothing companies!’
Target has yet to respond to DailyMail.com’s request for comment.
The company has long made it known that they support the LGBTQ community.
In 2014, the retailer openly endorsed marriage equality and the following year announced that they would end their policy of dividing certain products, such as toys, by gender. They also introduced a gender-neutral line for children and announced in April 2016 — during a nationwide discussion about bathroom access — that transgender people were free to use any bathroom they wanted.
A backlash ensued, and Target said $20 million in August 2016 to add private bathrooms to each of its stores.