A group of seven attorneys general, led by Indiana Republican Attorney General Todd Rokita, recently penned a letter to Target Corporation expressing their concerns about the company’s promotion of LGBTQIA+ products and gender identity among children. The letter, co-signed by attorneys general from Missouri, Mississippi, Arkansas, Idaho, Kentucky, and South Carolina, raises questions about child protection, parental rights, and potential violations of fiduciary duties by Target’s directors and officers.
The attorneys general specifically mention Target’s Pride Month display and its support of a pro-transgender organization, Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network (GLSEN). They express apprehension about the promotion and sale of what they deem potentially harmful products to minors and the interference with parental authority regarding sex and gender identity matters.
In their letter, the attorneys general highlight specific items sold by Target during Pride Month that they find concerning. These include shirts with provocative statements and imagery, such as “homophobe headrest” alongside a guillotine image and “transphobe collector” next to a skull image. They also mention a shirt that reads “we bash back” alongside a mace in transgender pride colors, and a brand called “Abprallen” that they describe as “Satanist-inspired” due to a product featuring the phrase “Satan Respects Pronouns” with a horned ram representing Baphomet.
Furthermore, the letter addresses swimsuits with features like “tuck-friendly construction” and “extra crotch coverage.” The attorneys general express concerns about Target’s support of GLSEN, accusing the organization of undermining parents’ constitutional and statutory rights by promoting “secret gender transitions for kids.”
Notably, the attorneys general suggest that Target’s Pride campaign and support of GLSEN may have adverse effects on child protection laws, parental rights, and the economic interests of Target shareholders. They argue that the corporation’s directors and officers might have acted negligently by pursuing a campaign that negatively impacted the company’s stock price and may have misallocated company resources for unrelated political or social goals.
The controversy surrounding Target’s Pride Month product lineup led to significant backlash and a decline in the company’s share prices. Attorney General Rokita emphasizes the importance of unity and pride in America, rather than divisive identity politics, stating, “Transanity doesn’t sell.”