Earlier this week, Target asked its employees to attend “Pride Week” events, including “Queer Bingo & Board games.”
In an internal email, Target invited employees to its Minneapolis headquarters, “in honor of Pride Week,” to “connect and build community.”
“Show your Pride,” the email says. In addition to Queer Bingo, employees could listen to a presentation titled “How to be a Better Ally” from the Pride+ Culture Club or attend a Pride+ Pro Sports Panel event.
BREAKING: I have obtained an internal email @Target sent to their employees today, which asks them to participate in "Pride Week" activities that include "Queer Bingo," a presentation on "How to be a better ally," and a "Pride+ Pro Sports panel." pic.twitter.com/UNN09rldwh
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) June 5, 2023
The email also invites employees to a “Disability and Mental Health Business Council” for a discussion on mental health.
“This is a safe space to talk about anything that’s been on your mind lately,” the email explains.
Target has recently come under fire for its latest Pride merchandise line which features items made for babies and children. In some states, the company moved its display to the back of the store following backlash; that, in turn, triggered several DFL politicians who said Target “gave in” to an “anti-LGBTQ hate movement.”
Target also broke ties with a Satanist designer who had created some of the Pride products.
Target’s diversity chief Kiera Fernandez has told employees they can accept DEI initiatives or “leave.”
“Not everyone is going to believe or be bought into our strategies and our priorities on this topic. They just aren’t,” Fernandez said in a video interview from 2021. Her remarks gained traction on Twitter following the Pride line controversy.
Rose Williams
Rose Williams is an assistant editor for Alpha News.
