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Target CEO Still Taking Fire For Anti-Gay Political Donation

by Justin Fenner | 11:55 am, June 9th, 2011

If you thought everyone had gotten over Target‘s $150,000 donation to an anti-gay candidate for public office last year, think again. Yesterday at the retail chain’s annual shareholder meeting in Pittsburgh, CEO Gregg Steinhafel got taken to task over why he put so much money in such questionable hands.

Women’s Wear Daily reports that Steinhafel sounded “embattled and annoyed” when shareholders asked him question after question on a sizeable gift made to MN Forward, a political action group that backed Minnesota’s Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer last year. Emmer ran a family values campaign and staunchly opposed gay marriage and domestic partnerships, which didn’t exactly gel with Target’s self-proclaimed unwavering commitment to the LGBT community. Even though Emmer lost to Democrat Mark Dayton, the company has reexamined its donation policy to make sure future gifts won’t rock the boat. But there’s still evidence to suggest that the company is donating to anti-gay campaigns. Naturally, there were questions:

“Fill us in on the thinking of why Emmer’s positions weren’t thoroughly researched,” said a shareholder. “I don’t understand how you could have such an enormous blind spot.”

“Out of respect for the balance of the shareholders, I think we’ve sufficiently addressed that topic,” Steinhafel said. “We listened, we evolved, we have the right processes. Does anybody have a question related to our business that’s not related to political giving? I’d love to hear a question related to something else.”

But for the most part, Target’s political contribution policy is the only thing its shareholders have cause to be worried about. The chain expects to exceed $100 billion in sales over the next six years, and is ahead of schedule on its plan to open several stores in Canada. Whether they actually make good on their promise to stand by the gay community when all that money starts rolling in remains to be seen.

[WWD]



  • Thats What She DID!

    Why gay people still give their money to corporations that don’t support them, baffles me. Target is opening up all over Canada and here, in Canada, we have a huge LGBT community & LEGAL Gay Marriage! If target wants my money, they better do more for our team. What were they thinking?

  • http://profiles.yahoo.com/u/2EG2QHFEIOC6VLTEBF6MA3IGEU Tony

    I’m staying on the boycott side until this un-American douchebag is fired. He’s indicative of what’s wrong with the whole great lakes area. from Wisconsin to Michigan we got old white priviledged right wing lunatics in business suits telling us who’s acceptable and who isn’t to them. Need to recall CEO’s as well.

  • Anonymous

    The only completely justified aspect of this situation is whether any publicly traded corporation should spend any corporate monies for any of their CEO’s personal opinions. What that opinion is, about whatever cause, makes no difference whatsoever. It’s simply wrong to do.
    Being old, I’ve seen both sides of the gay is okay subject.
    I’ll stand and fight with ANY person, or groups of people, that are being bashed for what they think…..every person has the right to think whatever they so decide. Thoughts aren’t command-able.
    Those groups will lose me as a co-defender when they adopt the stance that no one else on Earth should be allowed to have any opinion different then THEIR groups opinions.
    How likely is it that ANY monies spent on a pro-gay, anti-gay position is going to sway the opposite opinion group to change their stance…pro or anti.
    Maybe the stupidest of all human actions….in terms of expected results…..is to DEMAND thoughts in others.
    YOU WILL:  ….feel respect for me, agree with me, never feel critical on me, never disagree with me, admit I am totally right and you are totally wrong, LOVE me. LIKE me, think honorable thoughts about me.
    It is possible to demand some physical action……like showing respect for higher ranking members of the Military than yourself…..but you CANNOT demand any military member to actually FEEL respect to who they show respect for.
    For all of mankind’s long journey, no human’s thoughts have been threatened, yelled into existence..

    YOU WILL FEEL I’m the smartest person that has ever lived after reading this!

  • Friends Of Ron Mexico

    These thug like tactics from the left needs to stop.The only thing that is un-American is you on the left trying to shove your views down the throats of everyone.

  • Anonymous

    So what? Target can support whoever they choose. I am sick and tired of this whiny single-digit fringe group screaming that things must be their way or no way. 

  • Guest1234

    Let’s do an Undercover Boss on this loser and make him work with a gay Target employee. Ask his feedback on the CEO as an undercover.

  • Anonymous

    Why? Maybe liberal jackwads can work a day beside a conservative and get some feedback. Doesn’t make sense? No, it doesn’t – neither does your idiotic comment.

    Since when has being gay become some sort of ‘protected’ class? When has supporting a pro-family organization or candidate become a hate crime?

    Get over yourself. This is America and people can support whoever they want. I don’t kick and scream when GM gives money to gay groups. If it’s such a big deal to me, I will buy someone else’s car.

  • Anonymous

    Die, Target, Die! Die Catholic Child-Molestors, Die!

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