Target and Best Buy support anti-gay politician Tom Emmer (Boost Signal)
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Facebook: Boycott Target Until They Cease Funding Anti-Gay Politics
Twitter: #BoycottTarget // #TargetBoycott // #TargetFail
Target and Best Buy have given political contributions to Minnesota Forward, a political action committe (PAC) in Minnesota, which in turn used that money to fund campaign commercials for anti-LGBTQI gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer. Target gave $150,000 to MN Forward. Best Buy gave $100,000 to MN Forward. Tom Emmer is currently the only candidate MN Forward is supporting.
This is problematic because Tom Emmer is virulently anti-LGBTQI. He's the only anti-gay marriage candidate in the Minnesota gubernatorial race. He authored legislastion that would affect LGBTQI parenthood and adoption (defining parents only as the binary "mother and father"). From Abe Sauer of The Awl: "He has also fought "partner" language in wrongful death legislation. Also, Tom Emmer donated to, and posed with, a Christian rock band that supported the practice of executing gays in some foreign countries. Emmer's campaign actually gave the band OVER the legal limit."
I used to work at Target. It's a soulless bureaucracy that gives lip service to equality and then does bullshit like this. The only reason Target has ever cared about LGBTQI people is for the power of the queer dollar. They want our money. Just remember, Target's keyword is "diversity", not "equality". They are not the same thing.
Target is, and has been for the last 10 years at least, as bad as Wal-Mart. They do all the same things Wal-Mart does. They've been sued (and lost) for ableism, sexism and racism. They've slashed hours, staff, benefits and bonuses for low-level employees, they've ratcheted down the raise process so that they don't have to give more than 15-25 cent annual raises, even for high performers, and they engage in union-busting. Their merchandise is made in the same kinds of sweatshops and with the same slave labor, it just looks nicer. Target is not the magical unicorn of big box retailers, they're the little brother who always gets away with everything.
Do not accept Target's excuse about serving business interests, they're trying to confuse the issue. The issue is that through their actions they've given legitimacy and funding to a man who doesn't care if LGBTQI people live or die. To a man who has already made a concerted effort to strip away LGBTQI rights. No politician is truly against business, it's political suicide. The bottom line is that if they help Tom Emmer get elected, they have done a disservice to ALL LGBTQI people in America, and especially to their employees.
You cannot be for LGBTQI rights and support people who are anti-LGBTQI because those two things cancel each other out. If anti-LGBTQI politicians get elected, they take away LGBTQI rights.
Read more about Target, Best Buy and Tom Emmer at The Awl.
Oh, and check this:
Target's CEO Gregg Steinhafel and his wife each made maximum level contributions of $5000 to "one of the most anti-gay politicians in the entire United States - Rep. Michele Bachmann". Normally, I wouldn't be all that interested in where Gregg Steinhafel makes his personal political contributions, other than to consider him a douchebag and move on, but I bring it up for a reason.
From the article at Change.org:
It also begs the question how a CEO can say that his company's "support for the GLBT community is unwavering," when he himself gives money to a politician who would write discrimination into the U.S. Constitution if she could, and who believes that gays and lesbians are a threat to children.
I also made this interesting discovery in my research: Target just appointed a new VP of Government Affairs, Matt Zabel, who was Chief of Staff to anti-gay U.S. Senator John Thune. So Target just appointed this guy 6 days ago on July 23rd, and they made a $150,000 donation at almost exactly the same time where the money ended up supporting an anti-LGBTQI candidate. Coincidence?
It should also be noted that the people on Target's Board of Directors include the CEO of Wells Fargo, EVP of McDonald's, CEO of Xerox, CFO of Eli Lilly, to name a few. Most of the people on Target's board of directors are also directors on other high profile boards, and many of them are on the boards of companies that the individual Target board members directly work for. It's all very, very, very incestuous. So you can see how a move like this by Target will be watched and studied by people who can influence not only our civil rights, but the entire world's economy. Target's and Best Buy's PAC contributions help to set a precedent. This is more important than just political contributions, it has the power to affect all of our lives.
Target and its spokespeople continue to defend their PAC contributions. Along with Best Buy, they refuse to apologize for the outcome of their actions, or repudiate Tom Emmer. They keep repeating themselves about this contribution being just for the sake of their business interests and they won't admit that there's more here at stake than just tax cuts.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
And because Target has partnerships with numerous celebrities and designers, why not contact them as well to let them know you won't be buying their brands?
Just a few names:
Contact other departments, vendors, purveyors, buyers, etc.
Feel free to contact these people and let them know that you won't be buying any of the products they represent because of Gregg Steinhafel's and Target's monetary contributions to anti-LGBTQI politicians.
Facebook: Boycott Target Until They Cease Funding Anti-Gay Politics
Twitter: #BoycottTarget // #TargetBoycott // #TargetFail
Target and Best Buy have given political contributions to Minnesota Forward, a political action committe (PAC) in Minnesota, which in turn used that money to fund campaign commercials for anti-LGBTQI gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer. Target gave $150,000 to MN Forward. Best Buy gave $100,000 to MN Forward. Tom Emmer is currently the only candidate MN Forward is supporting.
This is problematic because Tom Emmer is virulently anti-LGBTQI. He's the only anti-gay marriage candidate in the Minnesota gubernatorial race. He authored legislastion that would affect LGBTQI parenthood and adoption (defining parents only as the binary "mother and father"). From Abe Sauer of The Awl: "He has also fought "partner" language in wrongful death legislation. Also, Tom Emmer donated to, and posed with, a Christian rock band that supported the practice of executing gays in some foreign countries. Emmer's campaign actually gave the band OVER the legal limit."
I used to work at Target. It's a soulless bureaucracy that gives lip service to equality and then does bullshit like this. The only reason Target has ever cared about LGBTQI people is for the power of the queer dollar. They want our money. Just remember, Target's keyword is "diversity", not "equality". They are not the same thing.
Target is, and has been for the last 10 years at least, as bad as Wal-Mart. They do all the same things Wal-Mart does. They've been sued (and lost) for ableism, sexism and racism. They've slashed hours, staff, benefits and bonuses for low-level employees, they've ratcheted down the raise process so that they don't have to give more than 15-25 cent annual raises, even for high performers, and they engage in union-busting. Their merchandise is made in the same kinds of sweatshops and with the same slave labor, it just looks nicer. Target is not the magical unicorn of big box retailers, they're the little brother who always gets away with everything.
Do not accept Target's excuse about serving business interests, they're trying to confuse the issue. The issue is that through their actions they've given legitimacy and funding to a man who doesn't care if LGBTQI people live or die. To a man who has already made a concerted effort to strip away LGBTQI rights. No politician is truly against business, it's political suicide. The bottom line is that if they help Tom Emmer get elected, they have done a disservice to ALL LGBTQI people in America, and especially to their employees.
You cannot be for LGBTQI rights and support people who are anti-LGBTQI because those two things cancel each other out. If anti-LGBTQI politicians get elected, they take away LGBTQI rights.
Read more about Target, Best Buy and Tom Emmer at The Awl.
Oh, and check this:
Target's CEO Gregg Steinhafel and his wife each made maximum level contributions of $5000 to "one of the most anti-gay politicians in the entire United States - Rep. Michele Bachmann". Normally, I wouldn't be all that interested in where Gregg Steinhafel makes his personal political contributions, other than to consider him a douchebag and move on, but I bring it up for a reason.
From the article at Change.org:
It also begs the question how a CEO can say that his company's "support for the GLBT community is unwavering," when he himself gives money to a politician who would write discrimination into the U.S. Constitution if she could, and who believes that gays and lesbians are a threat to children.
I also made this interesting discovery in my research: Target just appointed a new VP of Government Affairs, Matt Zabel, who was Chief of Staff to anti-gay U.S. Senator John Thune. So Target just appointed this guy 6 days ago on July 23rd, and they made a $150,000 donation at almost exactly the same time where the money ended up supporting an anti-LGBTQI candidate. Coincidence?
It should also be noted that the people on Target's Board of Directors include the CEO of Wells Fargo, EVP of McDonald's, CEO of Xerox, CFO of Eli Lilly, to name a few. Most of the people on Target's board of directors are also directors on other high profile boards, and many of them are on the boards of companies that the individual Target board members directly work for. It's all very, very, very incestuous. So you can see how a move like this by Target will be watched and studied by people who can influence not only our civil rights, but the entire world's economy. Target's and Best Buy's PAC contributions help to set a precedent. This is more important than just political contributions, it has the power to affect all of our lives.
Target and its spokespeople continue to defend their PAC contributions. Along with Best Buy, they refuse to apologize for the outcome of their actions, or repudiate Tom Emmer. They keep repeating themselves about this contribution being just for the sake of their business interests and they won't admit that there's more here at stake than just tax cuts.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
- Don't spend your money at Target (or Best Buy).
I know some people won't be able to or want to avoid Target. In that case, do something to offset funding their careless, damaging behavior.
- Boost the signal.
Write about this in your own journal or blog. Text it, Tweet it, put it on Facebook and MySpace. Tell people about it, talk about, let people know that Target and Best Buy are working against LGBTQI rights and are trying spin this story like it's no fault of their own. Feel free to copy and paste everything I wrote in this post. I abdicate copyright on this post. Take all of the phone numbers and email addresses and mail addresses. Use them.
- Sign the Change.org petition.
- Send the HRC letter.
- Contact Target:
- Target.com contact form.
- Guest Relations: (800) 440-0680 (7am to 6pm CT, Monday through Friday)
This one costs them money, use it. - Main Switchboard: (612)304-6073 (8am to 5pm CT, Monday through Friday)
- Community Relations and Grants Information Hotline: (612) 696-6098
- Target.com contact form.
- Contact the Executives at Target:
- Target CEO Gregg Steinhafel
gregg.steinhafel@target.com
Phone: (612) 696-6234
Fax: (612) 696-6325
Assistant:
Denise May
denise.may@target.com
612-696-6243
- Matt Zabel, VP Govt Affairs
matthew.zabel@target.com (I'm not sure if his email is working, I got a bounce back.)
- Susan Kahn, VP Communications (PR)
susan.kahn@target.com
- Media Relations
Eric Hausman
612-761-2054
- Communications
Target
1000 Nicollet Mall
Minneapolis, MN 55403
(612) 696-3400
Phone numbers and emails for Gregg Steinhafel's direct reports:
(if not listed, can also be contacted by email - firstname.lastname@target.com)
- Target CEO Gregg Steinhafel
- Doug Scovanner, EVP Finance & CFO
(612)-761-6610
- Jodee Kozlak, EVP Human Resources
(612)-696-6111
(name updated for typo, should work if you email her now)
- Will Setliff, VP of Strategy & Innovation
Will.Setliff@target.com
- Beth Jacob, CIO
beth.jacob@target.com
- Terry Scully, President of Target Financial Services
terry.scully@target.com
- John Griffith, EVP Property Dev
(612)-761-1487
- Kathee Tesija, EVP Merchandising
(612)-696-6134
- Michael Francis, EVP Marketing
(612)-696-2822
- Mitch Stover, SVP Distribution
(612)-304-2787
- Stacia Andersen, President TSS
(612)-696-2856
- Tim Baer, EVP General Counsel
(612)-696-6648
- Troy Risch, EVP Stores
(612)-696-2476
And because Target has partnerships with numerous celebrities and designers, why not contact them as well to let them know you won't be buying their brands?
Just a few names:
- Issac Mizrahi
Twitter @ issacmizrahi
info@isaacmizrahiny.com
For press queries
Erika Stair
erika@isaacmizrahiny.com
For retail and couture queries
Jayne Harkness
jayne@isaacmizrahiny.com
- Michael Graves Design Group
Communications
communications@michaelgraves.com
Products Inquiries
prodinq@michaelgraves.com
Business Development Inquiries
busdevinq@michaelgraves.com
- Giada De Laurentiis
via her website
Twitter @GDeLaurentiis
- Isabelle de Borchgrave
Facebook
info@isabelle-de-borchgrave.be
- Rachel Ashwell Designs Inc
Facebook
6330 Arizona Cir
Los Angeles, CA, 90045-1202
Phone: (310) 258-0660
Fax: (310) 258-0661
info@shabbychicbrands.com
- Thomas O'Brien
Design Studio
Phone: (212) 966-4700
Fax: (212) 966-4701
- Todd Oldham
Phone: (212) 226-4668
Fax: (212) 226-4873
info@toddoldham.com
- Stephen Burrows
John Robert Miller
Managing Director
SBX Holdings LLC
209 W 38th St, RM 1211
New York, New York 10018
Phone: (212) 391-9411
Fax: (212) 921-4913
jrm@stephenburrows.com
News and Media
City Girl Concepts
Kendra Glen
(917) 848-7274
kendra@citygirlconcepts.com
NewsMark Public Relations Inc.
Mark Hopkinson
(561) 852-5767
pr@newsmarkpr.com
- Marcus Samuelsson
Twitter @ marcuscooks
Press Inquiries
Sarah Abell
Baltz & Company
(212) 982-8300 ext. 108
sabell@baltzco.com
- Zac Posen
Public Relations
pr@zacposen.com
(212) 925-1263
- William Rast (Justin Timberlake/Trace Ayala)
Twitter @ williamrast
Customer Service (6:30am to 5pm, Mon-Fri PST)
(800) 977-9540
Corporate Office:
1212 S.Flower St. 5th Floor,
Los Angeles, CA 90015, US
- Justin Timberlake
Twitter
Facebook
MySpace
- Liberty of London
Website contact form
Phone: +44 (0)207 734 1234 (between 10am and 9pm, Monday to Saturday, and 12pm and 6pm on Sunday [London time])
Liberty Store
Regent Street
London W1B 5AH
- DwellStudio
Twitter
Facebook
Blog (you can leave comments there)
155 Sixth Ave
7th Floor
New York, NY 10013
Phone: (877)-99-DWEL (10am-6pm EST, Monday-Friday)
Phone: (212)219-9343
Fax: (212) 219-9103
Press inquiries
Molly Peterson:
mpeterson@dwellstudio.com
press@dwellstudio.com
- Liz Lange
Twitter
Facebook
CORPORATE
Bluestar Alliance
1370 Broadway, Suite 1107
New York, NY 10018
(212) 290-1370
Stefani Burns
sburns@bluestarall.com
PUBLIC RELATIONS
Liz Lange Collections
Alison Brod, PR
463 7th Avenue, Suite 1402
New York, NY 10018
Phone: (212) 244-1322
ALISON BROD PUBLIC RELATIONS
Twitter
373 Park Avenue South, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Phone: (212) 230-1800
Fax: (212) 230-1161
info@alisonbrodpr.com
- Shaun White
Twitter @ shaun_white
Contact other departments, vendors, purveyors, buyers, etc.
Feel free to contact these people and let them know that you won't be buying any of the products they represent because of Gregg Steinhafel's and Target's monetary contributions to anti-LGBTQI politicians.
- Target Corporation
Investors
John Hulbert
612-761-6627
investorrelations@target.com
- Community Giving
Kristen Jones
Imre Communications
909 Ridgebrook Road
Baltimore, MD 21152-9451
(410) 821-8220
kristenj@imrecommunications.com
- Arts
Lindsay Muller
Imre Communications
909 Ridgebrook Road
Baltimore, MD 21152-9451
410-821-8220
lindsaym@imrecommunications.com
- Education
Christine Marra
MWW Group
cmarra@mww.com
- Electronics
Julia Roether TriplePoint PR
530 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 203
Santa Monica, CA 90401
310-587-9200
jroether@triplepointpr.com
- Fashion, Trend Accessories
Emily Hofstetter
Laforce + Stevens
132 West 21st Street
New York City, NY 10011
212.242.9353
Hofstetter@Laforce-Stevens.com
- Converse One Star
Gabby Sabharwal
Laforce + Stevens
GSabharwal@Laforce-Stevens.com
- Designer Collaborations
Lauren Kanter
LaForce & Stevens
lkanter@laforce-stevens.com
- GO International
Lisa Frank
LaForce + Stevens
lfrank@laforce-stevens.com
- Harlem Designers
Karla Misjan
LaForce + Stevens
kmisjan@laforce-stevens.com
- Mossimo Giannulli
Mackenzie Dougherty
Laforce + Stevens
MDougherty@LaForce-Stevens.com
- Liz Lange, Grocery, Health and Nutrition, LIFELong Pet Food, Owned Brands (owned by Target, such as Circo, Cherokee, Utillity, etc.), Store Formats, Target Baby
Brandy Bartels
Kaplow
19 West 44th Street, Suite 601
New York, NY 10036
212-221-1713
bbartels@kaplowpr.com
- Home, Dwell Studio for Target, Isabelle Party by Isabelle de Borchgrave, Michael Graves, Simply Shabby Chic by Rachel Ashwell, Thomas O'Brien Vintage Modern Collection
Jessica Joyce
Kaplow
jjoyce@kaplowpr.com
- Giada De Laurentiis for Target, Liberty of London, Back to School + Back to College 2010
Andres Ortega
Kaplow
aortega@kaplowpr.com
- Summer 2010, Sustainability, Holiday 2010
Danielle Ratner
Kaplow
dratner@kaplowpr.com
- Seasonal
Gloria Quinn
Kaplow
gquinn@kaplowpr.com
- Multicultural Communications
Target
1000 Nicollet Mall
Minneapolis, Mn 55403
612-696-3400
Target.Communications@target.com
- Hispanic Initiatives
Iveliesse Malave Fleishman Hillard Hispania
Two Alhambra Plaza Suite 700
Miami, FL 33134
305.520.9037
iveliesse.malave@fleishman.com
- Hispanic Initiatives
Nathalie Alberto
Fleishman-Hillard
2800 Ponce De Leon Blvd., Suite 1400
Coral Gables, FL 33134
305.520.9030
Nathalie.alberto@fleishman.com
- African American Initiatives
Heather Woodard
Fleishman-Hillard
200 North Broadway
St. Louis, MO 63102
314-982-0289
heather.woodard@fleishman.com
- IndyCar Racing
Kelby Krauss
7777 Woodland Drive
Indianapolis, IN 46278
317-802-0000
kkrauss@ganassi.com
- NASCAR Racing
Shayna Keller
Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates
8500 Westmoreland Drive
Concord, NJ 28027
704-662-9642
skeller@ganassi.com