On Thursday, seven attorneys general from the Republican party issued a stern warning to retail giant Target regarding their contentious Pride collection, arguing it contained clothing that could potentially contravene child protection laws.
This group was spearheaded by Indiana’s Attorney General Todd Rokita, who contended that the Pride assortment in June could be “potentially harmful to minors”.
The group cautioned that this controversial campaign not only threatened the financial wellbeing of Target’s stakeholders due to ensuing boycotts but also raised “concerns” over potential violations of state laws concerning child protection and parental rights.
The attorneys general collectively voiced their concerns in a written statement: “As Attorneys General committed to enforcing our States’ child-protection and parental-rights laws and our States’ economic interests as Target shareholders, we are worried about the recent developments involving the company’s ‘Pride’ campaign.”
“Our concerns encompass the company’s promotion and sale of potentially harmful products to minors, potential interference with parental authority on issues of sex and gender identity, and potential breach of fiduciary duties by the company’s directors and officers,” the statement said.
Alongside Rokita, the collective correspondence was penned by attorneys general from the states of Arkansas, Idaho, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, and South Carolina. Target’s CEO, Brian Cornell, has yet to publicly respond to their concerns as of Thursday morning.
The Pride line introduced by Target this year faced backlash for several products, which critics deemed inappropriate. The consequential removal of some items from the collection further incited the ire of LGBTQ+ activists.
Among the criticized items in the Pride collection were a girls’ swimsuit designed for “tucking” male genitalia – a feature often used by transgender women, along with Pride-themed baby onesies and bibs.
Target also faced criticism for selling products from clothing brand Abprallen, known for its association with British designer Erik Carnell who produces clothing bearing openly satanic slogans such as “Satan Respects Pronouns.” Following the backlash, Target opted to remove these products from their assortment.
Since the controversy over its Pride merchandise became public, Target’s stock has suffered a nearly 20% decline. The seven attorneys general argued that this highlights a negligence on the corporation’s part, urging them to prioritize their business strategy over political agendas.
“Losses of this magnitude – caused by alienating Target’s core customers – raise concerns that Target’s board and management may have acted negligently,” they penned in the letter. “Further evidence suggests Target’s leadership may have acted on collateral interests. Directors and officers must act solely in the best interest of the company.”
The letter concluded with an altruistic statement and suggestion that Target work with the Attorney’s General.
“We live in a different day and age from our nation’s founding. But certain immutable precepts and principles must always endure so long as America is to remain free and prosperous,” the letter stated.
“We trust that we can work together to advance and protect the rights of individuals, the rule of law, and the well-being of families and children,” it concluded.