The Facebook site Boycott Target Until They Stop Funding Anti-Gay Politics states "Target, practically everyone's favorite discount retail store, is headquartered in Minnesota, the land of 10,000 lakes. But along with precious bodies of water, Minnesota is home to some pretty rabid anti-gay politicians and groups. Among them include Tom Emmer. And Target, it seems, is apparently filling his campaign coffers with nearly $150,000.
Follow the money. At least, that's the message delivered by an article at sfist.com by Matt Baume, who tracks $150,000 from Target's coffers, through a political action committee (PAC) known as Minnesota Forward, all the way to Tom Emmer, who himself supports a Christian rock band in Minnesota that travels around the state saying that it's moral and righteous for religious people to kill gays and lesbians.
For those into algebra, it looks a little like this: Target + Minnesota Forward + Tom Emmer = Support for a rather dangerous and radical political philosophy that diminishes LGBT people to pests that should be murdered. And Target is cool with this?
Send the company a message right now, urging them to explain why their money is being used to fund a politics that not only serves to prevent LGBT equality, but breeds homophobia, transphobia and hatred."
The site has almost 74,000 fans. Let's be honest. Who will a boycott hurt? Will Tom Emmer care? No. Will Gregg Steinhafel care? No. A boycott won't hurt them in any way. Selling Target stock may hurt them a little bit, but not a whole lot.
Who will a boycott hurt? The people that pay for drops in sales or stock prices aren't usually the big fish or those that make campaign donation decisions. The people that pay for those drops are the minimum wage, bottom of the run employees. Stockers. Cashiers. The people that help you find what you need in the store. Basically, people who really need that job at Target.
I won't be boycotting Target because I refuse to cause one person to lose their job.
{ 5 comments }
GREAT post and I totally agree with you. People never look at it like that, do they? So sad.
I couldnt agree with you more…I also will not be boycotting target!
Great post! Just like boycotting BP for the oil spill will only hurt the little people working there.
Standing up for social injustice is our American right. Voice your opinion. I agree that getting people laid off is NOT the answer. We need to stand up for what we believe in through asking questions and retorting when we don't agree with the answers we are given. Information is power!
Erika Burton, Ph.D.
http://www.steppingstonestogether.com
I don't shop at Target often but I wouldn't boycott them either!
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