Target Sues to Keep Activist Group from Canvassing for Marriage Equality Outside its Stores

I mentioned this recently in one of my news round-ups, but today a case is set to begin in San Diego in which Target Corporation will face off against activists who want to petition for marriage equality outside its stores.

San Diego Gay and Lesbian News reports:

On Friday morning, Superior Court Judge Jeffrey B. Barton will listen to arguments from both sides after Minnesota-based Target Corp. sued the San Diego-based Canvass For A Cause (CFAC) to prevent the grass-roots activist group from gathering petition signatures in front of its stores in California.

The fundamental American right to free speech is at the heart of this case, said Tres Watson, executive director of CFAC who is a San Diego resident.

In an earlier court date on March 8, Judge Barton denied a motion by Target’s attorneys seeking a temporary restraining order against CFAC. Barton ruled that the right of free speech trumps over the business interest of Target in refusing the request.

Court documents suggest Target is worried that the volunteers are making it look like the corporation supports equality for gays and lesbians.

CFAC volunteers also note that other groups are also talking to customers outside Target, including veterans organizations and Girl Scouts. Watson wonders whether Target wants to pick and choose which groups it allows outside its stores, and questions whether the corporation is showing bias against gay rights groups.

Jennifer Hudson, Ricky Martin Work Target Corporate Deals

Ricky Martin and Jennifer Hudson care less about Target's anti-gay political habits than Lady Gaga, apparently.

Both have deals with Target (Martin's started on January 21 in conjunction with his album Música + Alma + Sexo, and Hudson's begins today), and both reportedly performed last week at a corporate event for Target managers in Minneapolis.

Martin also performed (somehow I missed this) at a Target event in NYC on February 2.

The Star Tribune makes note of it:

Guess who did not perform at the Target managers meeting at Target Center Tuesday? Lady Gaga. Not that anyone expected her after her falling out with Target over the company’s donations to political action committees that she didn't approve of. She had a deal with Target to carry an exclusive version of her upcoming “Born This Way” album but she pulled out.

Other stars who do have deals with Target did perform for several thousand store managers on Tuesday.

Our spies report that Ricky Martin and Jennifer Hudson have rocked the day-long meeting thus far.

Matt Rettenmund at Boy Culture, asks:

"Okay, so everyone who was so upset with Lady Gaga, do you grant Hudson a pass because she has not presented herself as a gay role model, in which case your gripes about Gaga are completely narrow and only about whether or not Gaga deserves praise as opposed to pushing LGBT rights forward, or do you criticize Hudson with the same vehemence previously unleashed on Gaga?"

And what do folks think about Ricky's association with the brand?

At what point should musicians who present themselves as LGBT role models (and accept awards from GLAAD) turn their back on corporations that give to anti-LGBT causes, but whose support undoubtedly contributes to their bottom line? And what about celebrities who aren't seen as LGBT activists but have large gay fan bases?

Previously...
Statement: Target Surprised and Disappointed Lady Gaga Nixed Deal [tr]
Lady Gaga Dissolves Deal with Target [tr]

Watch: 'Target, Are You Anti-Gay'

Fresh on the heels of Lady Gaga dumping her deal with Target last week, comes a song parody of "Born This Way" asking Target the big question: Are you anti-gay? Watch, AFTER THE JUMP.

Statement: Target 'Surprised and Disappointed' Lady Gaga Nixed Deal

Target Corp. has released a statement regarding Lady Gaga's dissolution of their deal over the company's LGBT rights policies.

Said the company in a statement:

“We were very surprised and disappointed by the statements made by Lady Gaga’s organization related to her partnership with Target. Target remains committed to the LGBT community as demonstrated by our contributions to various LGBT organizations, our recently established Policy Committee to review our political giving and our respectful, inclusive workplace environment.”

In an interview last month, Target spokesman Jessica Carlson told the Washington Blade that Target had “a long history” of supporting the LGBT community through political giving, volunteerism and event sponsorship. "For example, Carlson said the retail chain donated to Project 515, a Minnesota LGBT group, and this year saw many team members volunteer at Creating Change, an LGBT rights conference hosted by the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force."

Dustee Tucker Jenkins, a Target exec, told Billboard "that the company would be 'more thoughtful' in its future contributions, but did not disavow its past support of candidates that oppose gay marriage."

Lady Gaga Dissolves Deal with Target: Report

Lady Gaga has dissolved her deal with Target, MetroWeekly reports:

Bob Witeck of Witeck-Combs Communications was familiar with the dissolved deal and told Metro Weekly, "Despite the expectation that this was all unfolding as a deal, it has been in a sensitive stage of continued discussion for probably the last three weeks."

He added, "Quite a few people, even early on, were afraid it was going to dissolve."

In February, talking to Billboard about the deal, Gaga had said, "[O]ur relationship is hinged upon their reform in the company to support the gay community and to redeem the mistakes they've made supporting those groups." Target had faced criticism in 2010 for donations the company made to groups supporting candidates who oppose LGBT equality.

Of today's announcement, Witeck said, "They wanted to make it public now. They decided it was important that people know there is no deal."

Developing...

Target Corp. Changes Political Giving Policies

The Washington Blade's Chris Johnson reports that Target has "changed its political giving policy because the company realized there was an opportunity 'to evolve' its practices" following the last election cycle. You may recall the outrage from the LGBT community after it was revealed that Target had donated $150,000 to MN Forward, a PAC supporting anti-gay candidate Tom Emmer.

The Blade:

Jessica Carlson, spokesperson for Target, said the change was enacted within the last month after the company’s corporate responsibility committee and board of directors conducted a review of policies regarding public policy engagement.

Among the new changes, which have been posted on Target’s web site, are establishing a policy committee made up of senior executives to guide decision-making for financial support of political activities.

“The policy committee and our CEO are responsible for balancing our business interests with any other considerations that may be important to our team members, our guests or other stakeholders,” Carlson said.

Carlson added the new policy committee will determine whether Target will make political contributions directly to candidates, political parties or to other groups such as 527 or 501(c)(4) committees.

Carlson declined to give information on who was consulted regarding the changes:

One source familiar with the changes, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that Target consulted with some LGBT rights advocates on the change.

Carlson added Target has “a long history” of supporting the LGBT community through political giving, volunteerism and event sponsorship.

For example, Carlson said the retail chain donated to Project 515, a Minnesota LGBT group, and this year saw many team members volunteer at Creating Change, an LGBT rights conference hosted by the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force.