2023 Target Pride Month merchandise backlash

[6] As a result of the outrage among anti-LGBTQ groups, Target decided to withdraw several pieces of merchandise from stores in southern states and from their website.

[11] Kelley Robinson, President of the Human Rights Campaign, wrote that "the LGBTQ+ community has celebrated Pride with Target for the past decade.

[2] Michael Edison Hayden, spokesperson for the Southern Poverty Law Center, told NPR that "Target's reversal would only serve to encourage more violent threats.

[14] In an interview with Salon, senior director of programs and corporate advocacy of the Human Rights Campaign, Eric Bloem called out that "we're seeing a very coordinated planned attack on the LGBTQ+ community" and that the attacks against the LGBTQ+ community and companies that are supporting it are boosted by continued false claims being reported via media including Fox News.

[15] Despite false claims,[5] hosts and guests have continued to spread misinformation about the Pride merchandise at Target in the week following the incident, according to Salon and Media Matters.

[23] On August 18, 2023, Target's chief growth officer Christina Hennington commented on the decline in sales during a conference call with analysts, stating that "The reaction is a signal for us to pause, adapt and learn so that our future approach to these moments balances celebration, inclusivity and broad-based appeal."