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Target Sells T-Shirts To Raise Money For Group Working To Defeat Gay Marriage Ban In Minnesota (HuffPost)

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Two years after Target Corp. angered gay marriage supporters with a political donation that benefited a fiery gay marriage opponent seeking the governor's office, the retailer is now upsetting same-sex marriage opponents by selling T-shirts to raise money for a group working to defeat a gay marriage ban in Minnesota.

The Minneapolis-based retailer is taking heat in its home state, where voters will decide this November whether to put a gay marriage ban into the state constitution. One organizer of gay marriage opponents warned that their displeasure could spread to 32 other states where voters have banned gay marriage.

"Target is attacking traditional marriage, which is an incredibly misguided thing for them to have done," said Chuck Darrell, spokesman for Minnesota for Marriage, a group campaigning to pass the constitutional marriage amendment. "It's an insult to the overwhelming majority of their customers."

Target's move comes two years after it endured a backlash from gay rights supporters for giving $150,000 to a campaign group backing the conservative Republican candidate for Minnesota governor, Tom Emmer, who narrowly lost to Democrat Mark Dayton in a race that went to an automatic recount. The donation set off protests and calls for a boycott from a constituency that had seen Target as an ally.

Supporters of gay marriage see Minnesota as having the potential to halt their long losing streak in statewide votes.

Read the rest here.

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Well, holy guacamole! Gay marriage has something I'm not certain it ever had before: A Corporate Sponsor! Target has shown some real cojones in coming out in favor of gay marriage and more: being willing to put its money (in the form of product) where its mouth is. Have to admit, I wasn't aware of their previous less-than-supportive action regarding the governor's race in Minnesota, but this is VERY encouraging news.

Though I do NOT believe that rights should be subject to a popular vote, it would be very refreshing to see one such vote PASS. I mean to keep an eye on this business!

Tags: Target, gay marriage

1 member likes this

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Aiden on June 3, 2012 at 7:44am

This is one of the shirts.

and a link to the others

Permalink Reply by Loren Miller on June 3, 2012 at 8:12am

Love is love and not fade away.

Hell, even the Stones knew it 30+ years ago! BTW, thanks, Aiden!

Permalink Reply by Tammy S on June 3, 2012 at 8:12am

Thanks for posting this, I shared their pride page via email. I am very impressed with Target!

Permalink Reply by Sentient Biped on June 3, 2012 at 8:35am

Loren, thanks for posting this. Of course, the hate groups would not be happy about this, but the more companies that openly support equality, the less influence the hate groups have.

Also, via joe.my.god - the christian post is reporting that Target now blocks emails from the hate group, AFA, who has their panties in a bind about Target promoting equality. "In a recent update, AFA stated, "Target is blocking emails from the AFA Action Alert system." The family group is asking supporters to contact the retailer through other means." By "family group", they mean "vociferous hate group".

Permalink Reply by Sentient Biped on June 3, 2012 at 8:53am

p.s. Macy's, too.

Permalink Reply by Loren Miller on June 3, 2012 at 8:59am

Wow! It's like the Peanut Butter Conspiracy:

It's SPREADING!

Permalink Reply by Tammy S on June 3, 2012 at 9:17am

Well maybe we can help offset the hate mail, I wrote Target Corporate a thank you letter and I'll be sure to do the same for Macy's.

Permalink Reply by Joseph P on June 3, 2012 at 10:24am

"Target is attacking traditional marriage, which is an incredibly misguided thing for them to have done," said Chuck Darrell, spokesman for Minnesota for Marriage, a group campaigning to pass the constitutional marriage amendment. "It's an insult to the overwhelming majority of their customers."

What an asshole. The overwhelming majority of their customers, my ass. The majority of the country is in favor of gay marriage or gay civil unions. It's just that the fundagelical bigots are better at getting their people out to the polls, since their preachers threaten them with hell if this country allows that sort of thing.

Besides, don't racist, homophobic bigots shop at Walmart?