4 Quick points about why this is a waste of gay energy:
A) If this is about the Citizens United ruling, protest at the Supreme Court, ask Obama and the Senate to act more quickly on confirming Obama's progressive judicial nominees (dozens are being held up by Republican senators right now and nobody seems to care), do your part to lobby senators in the future to choose more progressive Supreme Court justices (as a lawyer and member of the American Constitution Society, I can tell you this is sorely needed), or protest any number of corporations (there are hundreds) who have similarly contributed to PACs who don't actively support LGBT causes the way Target does.
B) What should we be doing instead of shopping at Target? I gotta buy toothpaste. Wal-Mart's corporate policies for LGBTs suck. Toothpaste at CVS costs more. Isn't this effort better directed at giving people who care about this an option of where to shop, not encouraging people to commit fraud and driving up prices for everyone (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Return_fraud)?
C) Aren't these efforts better directed at protesting stores like AutoZone, Radio Shack, and Wal-Mart, none of which provide the same-sex partner benefits and trans-friendly policies that Target does, not to mention Target's employment of thousands of openly LGBT people and long-standing support for Twin Cities Pride? This focus on Target, while good intentioned and a way to pressure Target into continuing its LGBT-friendly policies, doesn't say anything to the many Fortune 500 employers who do not offer LGBT-friendly policies except that there are no consequences for not offering these policies. If this is the way we treat corporations who give us things they don't have to, how should we treat the ones who don't give us these things? EndFragment
D) Would it kill you to do this outside of the gay bubble? Like a Target in Burbank or Jamaica?
Sean, the recent target boycotts for Target aren't simply LGBT issues. Target is supporting a number of right wing issues and candidates. If you dig into their history did so even before they were allowed to at the corporate level.
ReplyDeleteSo I'll respond to you 4 points with 2:
A) Boycotts aren't supposed to be easy for the boycotter. You site target as being cheaper but part of boycotting is at times paying more to stand up for you beliefs. It may also mean doing without things you "need" vs find other sources for things you need.
B) If the only progressive thing you care about is LGBT rights then feel free to shop at target. However, keep in mind if parties like the Tea party take over they could conceivably make it illegal to grant LGBT rights...