Target: "We'd like you to wed,
not sure about the marry part."
Many in the LGBT community cheered when Target announced a same-sex wedding registry. The company has had a
rocky history with gay community.
The announcement of the registry, of course, drew the focus on where the Minnesota company stands on the issue of state constitutional amendment banning marriage equality that will soon go before the voters.
Pioneer Press followed up with the company.
Does this mean Target Corp. is ready to make a commitment, too? Is Minnesota's most prominent corporation taking a public stand supporting gay marriage -- and opposing the Minnesota marriage amendment, which is coming to a vote in November?
Nope. Target spokeswoman Molly Snyder confirmed Friday, July 27, that Target hasn't changed its neutral stance on the amendment, which would add existing state law to the Minnesota constitution stating that marriage is legal only between one man and one woman.
"We recognize that there is a broad range of strongly held views on the MN Marriage amendment," Synder said in a statement. "Consistent with our longstanding support of civic engagement, we strongly encourage our team members to exercise their right to vote in November."
No one on either side is reacting particularly positively.
The anti-gay crowd is filled with righteous fury. They see the images of happy same-sex couple shown in a flattering light and have written Target off, like Starbucks and General Mills, as an "enemy to the family," and all good things wholesome and Christian. They're screaming boycott in the Pioneer's comments section and elsewhere.
Of course, many in the LGBT community are now less impressed with their PR marketing campaign. Many see their claim of "neutrality" as being cowardly. And the wedding registry is simply a cynical play to grab some dollars off this LGBT weddings trend, while not actually having an opinion whether those weddings should bestow any actual legal status or any actual legal rights. They're saying, "We're happy to turn a profit off this same-sex wedding thing, but couldn't care less if you can ever actually get a civil marriage license."
Of course, "neutrality" is really an endorsement of the status quo, which currently forbids marriage equality by state statute in Minnesota. The amendment passing would raise the bar even higher for marriage equality advocates to ultimately make a change in the status quo.
Or as Bishop Demond Tutu said:
“If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality.”
[Update] It should also be mentioned that
"corporate neutrality" is a favorite catchphrase of marriage equality's no. 1 foe, National Organization for Marriage. It means: "Companies: you need to shut up F up if you support marriage equality, but if you oppose it, we'll
rush to your side and cheer."
Anyway, gay people recognize the dog-whistle of "neutrality" talking point.
So basically, on marriage equality in the North Star state, Target has opted for King Solomon baby-splitting solution.
But feel free to register your gay wedding there. Or boycott them. Or whatever. I'm neutral.