Like Bud Light and the Los Angeles Dodgers before them, Target is the latest brand to capitulate to the right-wing's fury over the existence of LGBTQ+ people.
The retailer announced it would be moving its Pride collection to the back of the store and removing some Pride-related products following conservative outrage.
But unlike Bud Light and the Dodgers—who at least had the backbone to renege on its caving to the right-wing. Target had a somewhat understandable reason for backing down—right-wing bigots have been harassing Target employees over the Pride collection.
And Whoopi Goldberg, for one, has had it. During a recent episode of The View, Goldberg unloaded on the homophobic, transphobic conservatives causing the uproar and railed against what she called "conservative cancel culture."
See her statement below.
\u201cSOME TARGET STORES MOVE PRIDE-THEMED ITEMS DUE TO THREATS: Although the retailer has sold #PrideMonth items for over 10 years, #TheView co-hosts react to some stores recently moving products to the back of stores due to anti-LGBTQ+ threats. https://t.co/cVclFZQU98\u201d— The View (@The View) 1684980000
Speaking for many—probably most—of us, Goldberg said:
“I am sick of people moving my desires because their desires are not being met in some way."
The comment was in reference to Target's decision to essentially hide its Pride collection in its stores following conservative attacks over a patently false rumor that the store is carrying swimsuits for children that are "tuck-friendly"—that provide a means of concealing male genitalia.
There is no truth to the rumor—the "tuck-friendly" swimsuits are for adults only. But of course conservative ideologues and belligerent far-right agitators never met a fact they couldn't simply ignore, so the uproar has continued.
Goldberg went on to lay into these supposedly freedom-obsessed "snowflakes'" incessant attempts to curtail everyone else's freedom.
"I am sick of people telling me I can’t go to a drag show. I’m sick of people telling me that my friends are different because you don’t understand them. I’m sick of it."
"This is America. You’re supposed to be able to be whoever you are. You know? Stop with all this stuff. You want to talk about snowflakes? Who are the snowflakes, really?"
She then put a finer point on how absolutely absurd all this right-wing bravado about LGBTQ+ people really is.
“They’re people scared of a flag, people who are scared of a drag brunch. It’s a brunch!”
Many online were right there with Goldberg's take on right-wing bigots and applauded her for speaking out.
\u201c@TheView\u201d— The View (@The View) 1684980000
\u201c@TheView It's unacceptable that LGBTQ+ rights are still being threatened. #PrideMonth shouldn't be something that needs to be hidden away! #LoveIsLove\u201d— The View (@The View) 1684980000
\u201c@TheView yep\u201d— The View (@The View) 1684980000
\u201c@TheView Love Whoopie and she\u2019s right on target with snowflakes deciding what stores can sell and what they cant\u201d— The View (@The View) 1684980000
\u201c@TheView Whoopi is absolutely right. America, and other progressive countries, have been evolving into a more Roddenberrian Society where we realise that we have ZERO CONTROL over our birthplace, language, religion, sex, gender, race, ethnicity, eye or hair colour, skin complexion.\u201d— The View (@The View) 1684980000
\u201c@TheView What is wrong with people! Sad where we live in today to threaten the pride theme\u201d— The View (@The View) 1684980000
\u201c@TheView The hatred is astounding. If you respond to her comment with negativity, you are proving her point.\u201d— The View (@The View) 1684980000
\u201c"This is America. You're supposed to be able to be whoever you are. Stop with all this stuff. You want to talk about snowflakes? Who are the snowflakes really?"\nRIGHT ON, WHOOPIE!\u201d— Don Rice Jr (@Don Rice Jr) 1685039146
\u201cTarget is one of the first to back down under protest of narrow minded straight people. Please know the difference between an ALLY and an opportunist. This goes for people as well. If ANYONE tries to diminish your light, they are NOT an ALLY.\u201d— BryanisMardiGras (@BryanisMardiGras) 1685023941
In a statement, Target said they were making the changes because "we’ve experienced threats impacting our team members’ sense of safety and well-being while at work" and that some of the Pride items had inspired "significant confrontational behavior."
Now that Target has confirmed in-person threats and harassment are effective, expect more instances of conservative public misbehavior.
