Target Scales Back Pride Products Amid Right-Wing Backlash

Target will sell its Pride Month collection in fewer stores after last year's right-wing backlash over LGBTQ+-themed products.

Reasons for the Decision

- Target faced calls for boycotts last year because of its Pride Month collection. - The backlash and boycotts contributed to disappointing quarterly results, Target executives said in earnings calls. - This year's Pride collection is smaller than past collections.

Impact on LGBTQ+ Community

- Target has offered an assortment of merchandise, which includes clothing, to mark June's annual Pride for more than a decade. - This year's Pride collection will include adult apparel, home products, food and beverages that have "been curated based on guest insights and consumer research," Target told Axios. - Target said it will "have a presence at local Pride events in Minneapolis and around the country" and will "support a number of LGBTQIA+ organizations."

Broader Implications

- After years of supporting Pride events without issue, Target and other companies, including Bud Light, were hit by customer boycotts that affected sales. - The LGBTQ+ community has long faced discrimination and prejudice, and the backlash against Target's Pride collection is a reminder of the work that still needs to be done to achieve full equality.