Walmart not changing Pride merchandise in spite of Target backlash

Walmart has a message for those pushing boycotts against stores and companies which sell Pride merchandise - they aren't bucking down to any pressure.

Walmart is standing firm on its Pride Month merchandise following Target's decision to pull its collection from some stores after receiving threats. Walmart's chief merchandising officer, Latriece Watkins, told reporters gathered at the company's Bentonville, Arkansas, headquarters Wednesday that it hasn't made any changes to this year's product array. "We have merchandise that we sell all year that supports different groups," Watkins said, according to Bloomberg. "In this particular case, we haven't changed anything in our assortment."

 . . .Walmart's "Pride & Joy" collection features both Pride-themed editions of items from popular brands and products created by LGBTQ-founded brands, including Pride t-shirts, gender-inclusive enamel pins, and Pride-themed accessories and home decor. Watkins said Wednesday that Walmart hasn't received any threats over its collection, according to Reuters. "In this particular case, when we think about security ... we have not done anything in particular differently related to security in our stores," Watkins said. 

This is not to pat Walmart on the back because the store chain has a lot of problems when it comes to things like fairness to employees. The point, I think, is to watch the reaction from the boycott crowd. They've been raising hell against Target even to the point of allegedly causing disruption at the stores. However, they have been mostly silent about Walmart. I wouldn't be surprised if they have a totally different view of Walmart shoppers and employees.  Perhaps they think that folks at Walmart won't put up with or be scared by what those at Target were.

If you catch my meaning.

'Biden proclaims June as LGBTQ+ Pride month, denounces oppression' & other Thur midday news briefs

 Editor's note - Today marks the start of Pride Month 2023. No matter what the opposition tries, it is still our Pride month. We don't show fear and we sure as hell don't back down. It took us a long time to get to this point and we have a long way to go still. We are not retreating.

Biden Proclaims June as LGBTQ+ Pride Month, Denounces Oppression - Again, voting matters. We want leaders who acknowledge us, not ignore us. 

Since Florida banned most adult trans care: People are suffering - The mainstream media has no business ignoring this story.

Indiana High Schoolers Bravely Perform LGBTQ-Inclusive Play Despite School’s Ban - This is why I am optimistic about the future. 

Pentagon leaders cancel drag show at a Nevada Air Force base - It was already approved but apparently certain folks got scared because of noise.

Fox News pundits attack LGBTQ organization which parent company Fox Corp actually supports

Fox News playing its viewers for suckers again.

Media Matters for America comes through again with what should be seen as a blockbuster. Fox News is playing both sides of the LGBTQ "culture war."

Fox News has been attempting to stir up vitriol about corporate support for GLSEN, a nonprofit group that works to combat anti-LGBTQ bullying. If they’re looking for companies to boycott for supporting GLSEN, they don’t need to look far: Fox News’ parent company Fox Corp. previously said it has “raised awareness and demonstrated support” for the pro-LGBTQ group. 

 Fox News has been waging war against corporate support for LGBTQ causes, including recent attacks on Bud Light and Target. It has also begun criticizing Target for partnering with GLSEN, an organization whose “mission is to create safe, inclusive learning environments for K-12 students.” Fox editor Hannah Grossman has written two anti-GLSEN articles in the past week that carry the headlines: “Target partners with org pushing for kids' genders to be secretly changed in schools without parental consent” and “Target marketing VP holds senior position at org pushing secretive transgender policies in K-12 schools.” 

 Media Matters points out that these accusations against GLSEN lodged in the articles have also been repeated on the news network. However, if GLSEN is so bad, then why does Fox News' parent company, Fox Corp openly support GLSEN?

. . .Fox Corp. stated in 2021 that it supports the nonprofit, writing in its corporate social responsibility report that it has “raised awareness and demonstrated support for organizations working on behalf of the LGBTQ community including” GLSEN It also lists GLSEN in its 2022 corporate social responsibility report among organizations that it supports. Additionally, Fox Corp. names GLSEN in a video posted on the front page of its website of organizations it supports. 

And here is something worth remembering during Pride Month when Fox News pushes its anti-LGBTQ narrative:

 Fox Corp. has written that it is “committed to LGBTQ+ equality” in material to shareholders and ad buyers while Fox News has spent years attacking the LGBTQ community on its programming. Even Fox News has a website claiming it “celebrates the contributions to America by the LGBTQ+ community.”

'White supremacist who targeted LGBTQ people confesses to owning child pornography' & other Wed midday news briefs

White supremacist who targeted LGBTQ+ “pedos” confesses to owning child pornography - Well, well, well, well, well. 

Activists Urge Target and All Businesses to Push Back on Anti-LGBTQ+ Campaigns​ - It's aggravating how these bigots do the same thing while making the same charges (we are recruiting or grooming kids) while we end up looking unalert and flatfooted every time. 

Alabama expands ban on trans athletes to include college teams - So unnecessary. 

Blue Jays fans donating to LGBTQ causes in Anthony Bass' name - Somebody put his foot in his mouth part 1. 

Blue Jays pitcher Anthony Bass apologizes for sharing post supporting anti-LGBTQ boycotts - Somebody put his foot in his mouth part 2.

Report - Fox News amplified false claim that Target was sexually grooming kids while devoting only one minute to allegations of actual sex abuse

The report from Media Matters for America is further proof that the "leave the kids alone" narrative is a lie in which bigots place their building blocks of homophobia and transphobia upon. Fox News went all out implying that Target was grooming kids with its Pride merchandise that the network paid very little attention to a scandal which actually saw children being sexually abused. 

 Fox News aired more than 2 hours of coverage of the backlash to Target’s Pride Month displays, while running less than a minute of coverage on a new report detailing sex abuse in the Catholic Church in Illinois. Fox added to the right-wing media backlash against Target’s LGBTQ Pride displays as part of a recent crusade against corporate Pride Month campaigns. The company decided to pull some merchandise celebrating Pride Month from store shelves after receiving threats against the safety of its workers. 

 From May 23 through 9 a.m. ET May 30, Fox aired over 2 hours and 12 minutes of coverage of the Target controversy. In comparison, Fox reported for just 22 seconds on the Illinois attorney general’s recent report that Catholic Church clergy members and lay religious brothers had abused nearly 2,000 children in the state since 1950. 

 Much of Fox’s extensive coverage of the Target boycott included expressions of outrage that children were exposed to clothing with positive messages about the LGBTQ community. While Fox repeatedly fearmongered about this supposed threat to children, the network almost completely ignored the reports of sexual abuse in the Illinois Catholic Church, airing only one segment on the attorney general’s report.

Just like the social media influencers exploiting the issue for their own gain, no one at Fox News gives a damn about actual child sex abuse. They only care about what they can gain by appealing to people's bigoted notions about just who the abusers are.

'Biden calls for immediate repeal of Uganda's anti-gay law' & other Tue midday news briefs

Biden calls for immediate repeal of Uganda’s anti-gay law - There certainly is work to do. And let's not be naive. Politicians like Ron DeSantis want what happened in Uganda to be the future of this country. The only difference is how they are slow walking it. 

Ted Cruz Condemning Uganda's Anti-Gay Law Raises Eyebrows - I'm as shocked as you are. 

Trans couple harassed in Montana Target by man throwing Pride clothes on floor​ -OOO I WISH a fool would start with me . . . 

15 history-making LGBTQ+ veterans who fought for equality - Very appropriate for Memorial Day weekend. 

South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem Calls for Drag, Pronoun Ban at Colleges - She wants to be a GOP vice presidential pick at the very least. Using our community for her political ambitions.

Conservatives attack drag queens while ignoring report that almost 2,000 kids suffered sexual abuse from Catholic clergy

 

Editor's note - I am not trying to disrespect anyone's religion but fair is fair. Why are legislators and so many others pointing accusing fingers at drag queens and accusing them of sexually grooming kids when the following is happening right in front of them?

From Ja'han Jones of  The ReidOut Blog, MSNBC: 

 The Illinois attorney general released a report Tuesday finding that almost 2,000 children suffered sexual abuse by 451 Catholic clergy between 1950 and 2019.

 “It is my hope that this report will shine light both on those who violated their positions of power and trust to abuse innocent children, and on the men in church leadership who covered up that abuse,” Kwame Raoul said in a statement. “These perpetrators may never be held accountable in a court of law, but by naming them here, the intention is to provide a public accountability and a measure of healing to survivors who have long suffered in silence.” As the attorney general's statement appears to acknowledge, state law limits how long after an alleged crime a suspect can be charged, meaning many of these allegations may never be heard in a court of law. So the question then turns to what exactly we are to do with this information.

 . . . The Illinois report adds to the thousands of previously reported incidents of child sexual abuse by clergy in conservative-leaning religious institutions over the past few decades. This includes last year’s report from Southern Baptist Convention leaders on allegations of widespread sexual abuse within the ultraconservative denomination.

 By comparison, there have been no credible reports, to my knowledge, of child sexual abuse at drag shows. And, of course, I’m only making the comparison here because many conservatives — including religious leaders in the Catholic Church and the Southern Baptist Convention — falsely equate drag shows or LGBTQ people with sexual perversion. In response, Republican lawmakers are pushing measures that bar minors from attending drag shows.

No need to ask certain questions because the answer is no. No, we will not see social media campaigns by people like Matt Walsh and the Heritage Foundation calling out churches. No, we will not see Twitter and TikTok videos of people going into Catholic and Southern Baptist Churches and interrupt services while calling out the abuse. No, we will not see people posting memes and tone rap songs calling out these churches.

All of that is reserved for drag queens and companies like Target, Kohls, or North Face.

And why?

Because it's probably considered as too boring. And it's not financially and socially advantageous for conservative social media crusaders. No one is going to put you on Fox News or Newsmax or any of those other far-right stations for calling out the church. Neither Matt Walsh, Charlie Kirk, nor any right-wing cockroaches infesting Twitter will amplify you if the attack is on churches. And you can't build a network of right-wing droolers who attach themselves to your every lie and outrage like the lemmings they are.

It's never been about protecting kids. It's always been about profit, social attention, and above all, prejudice.