After receiving a lot of criticism, the retail behemoth pulled back on some of its Pride Month products. In response, radical LGBTQ groups allegedly bombarded Target with bomb threats.
At least three states—Utah, Pennsylvania, and Ohio—have purportedly received the bomb threats targeting a number of Target locations. Cleveland 19 News examined an email sent to one shop in Cleveland that suggested the threats may have been the work of extreme LGBTQ activists.
According to reports, the email said, “Target is filled with cowards who turned their backs on the LGBT population and chose to cater to the homophobic right-wing hillbilly bigots that demonstrated and destroyed their store.”
Officers in Utah found that there had been no “credible threat” made against the two establishments in the city, according to Salt Lake City police chief of communication Brent Weisberg, who spoke to USA TODAY.
Weisberg stated in a statement that “officers will keep conducting neighborhood patrolling around the target areas in Salt Lake City exercising an abundance of caution.”
He said, “We urge anyone who observes anything suspicious to dial 911 as quickly as possible.”
In a statement, Target announced that all of its locations will keep their usual operating hours while turning the matter over to the police.
According to the corporation, “law enforcement looked into these allegations and found that the shops are secure.”
Additionally, Target locations in Layton, Taylorsville, and Provo received bomb threats. Layton Police Sgt. John Ottesen revealed to the CBS station KUTV 2 News that the bomb threats made against the neighborhood Target cited Pride Merchandise and originated from a “bogus email address.”
As we reported last week, when Target unveiled its LGBTQIA2S+ “Pride Collection” for the month of June, it received a lot of criticism. This collection included apparel created by U.K.-based artist Abprallen, whose previous works had the lines “Satan loves you” as well as “Satan respects pronouns.” The Pride Collection also included “tuck-friendly” swimming suits in women’s fashions that are generally made for male genitalia. Target removed several of the products from its shops in reaction to the intense outcry, alleging that team members had been “threatened” but failing to provide any supporting documentation.
“Since launching this year’s collection, we have encountered threats affecting our team members’ feeling of well-being and security while at work,” stated Target in a statement.
The business noted, “Given these tumultuous conditions, we are making revisions to our plans, including deleting things that have been the focal point of the most severe aggressive conduct.”
LGBTQ advocates charged Target with giving up on the cause when faced with political criticism.
“Extremist individuals and organizations work to separate us and ultimately do not simply wish rainbow merchandise to go away; they also want all of us to disappear,” said Kelley Robinson, head of the Human Rights Campaign, in a statement. “The LGBTQ+ community has been celebrating Pride with Target for the past ten years; it’s time that Target joins with us and intensifies its dedication to us.”
