John,

It is an unfortunate reality that the Republican party and their extremist allies feel emboldened in their attempts to roll back progress, intimidate major corporations, and erase visibility for the LGBTQ+ community.

This represents a dangerous shift in our society, one that could undermine decades of hard-fought advances toward equality and inclusion.

Target, one of America's largest and most influential retail corporations, currently sits in the crosshairs of this regressive movement. Their decision to capitulate under the threats of violence from these groups, and remove LGBTQ+ merchandise, has given fuel to this harmful rhetoric.

It has provided a minor victory to those who wish to halt and reverse the strides made in inclusivity and equality and it has fueled their hate as they set their sights on even more homophobic and transphobic attacks.

We cannot allow this. We must stand firm and send a clear, uncompromising message to Target that we will not tolerate bigotry and we expect them, as a major player in our society, to uphold and promote the values of acceptance, diversity, and inclusivity.

Sign and send a pre-written, customizable message directly to Target’s CEO Brian Cornell: Don't Give Into Bullies! Have Pride in the Consumer Market for LGBTQ+ Gear.

Target must not only feel the heat; they must understand the full weight and power of the American people's demand for equality. They need to understand that we, as consumers, have a voice.

They need to realize that our money speaks, and we have the choice to invest in corporations that stand on the side of equality and justice, rather than those who buckle under the pressure of prejudiced and bigoted forces.

This is not a time for half-measures or lukewarm statements. This is a time for definitive action. We must let Target know, in no uncertain terms, that by yielding to bullies, they have made a grave error. An error that does not align with the trajectory of progress and acceptance that the American people, their consumers, expect and demand.

It is essential that Target, and corporations like it, understand that they have a social responsibility to their consumers and the wider public. They play a significant role in shaping society, attitudes, and culture.

Their actions have weight, and their decisions have consequences. The decision to remove LGBTQ+ merchandise does not simply affect their bottom line, it sends a message to society, a message that currently reads as a surrender to bigotry.

Remind Target that their silence and compliance equate to endorsement. If they stand by and allow these bullies to dictate their actions, they are effectively endorsing their hate-filled agenda.

Let’s make sure that Target knows we are watching, and we are waiting. Choose wisely.

- Amanda

Amanda Ford, Director
Democracy for America
Advocacy Fund