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Target Donation to Anti-Gay Candidate Could Mean Trouble for New Stores
Before Target's funding of an anti-gay candidate became a controversy, a new one to be built in Hollywood was approved. Now, two slated for construction in San Francisco could see trouble, finds the LA Times.
"You can't take two dates to the prom," said openly gay San Francisco County Supervisor Bevan Dufty. "You can't brand your company as one that values [gay and lesbian rights] and then make contributions to candidates who spend every waking breath to make us second-class citizens."
After protests last week, Target apologized for their $150,000 donation to MN Forward, which went to fund Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer in Minnesota. The move sparked protests, boycotts and a petition submitted by MoveOn.org and the Human Rights Campaign wants Target to donate an equivalent amount to gay rights candidates.
One women protested Target by going in and spending over $200 in gifts for friends and then went straight to customer service to return all the items in front of the manager, explaining why each friend would not be happy she bought them at the retailer. She then cut up her Target credit card, capturing it all on video (see it below).
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You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
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