Target's top executive, following weeks of pressure from LGBT-rights groups and other activists across the country, has issued a formal apology for his company's contribution to a Minnesota political action committee that is backing the state's likely GOP candidate for governor, who has espoused various anti-gay positions.
Windy City Times reported that MN Forward, a business community-backed political action group, received $100,000 in cash and $50,000 in in-kind contributions from Target. MN Forward has run ads in the state supporting state Republican Rep. Tom Emmer. Emmer, who is likely to grab the GOP nomination for governor, is against marriage equality and leveling the playing field for LGBTs in areas of discrimination in housing, the workplace, immigration and healthcare.
In an Aug. 5 letter to employees, Target CEO Gregg Steinhafel wrote, "I have heard from many of you, and our team members, over the past week regarding Target's contribution to MN Forward, and I appreciate your engagement and candor, both of which clearly demonstrate your loyalty and passion for our company.
"In situations like this, it is often difficult to find the right words, but I would like to respond with the same honesty you have shown me.
"The intent of our political contribution to MN Forward was to support economic growth and job creation. While I firmly believe that a business climate conducive to growth is critical to our future, I realize our decision affected many of you in a way I did not anticipate, and for that I am genuinely sorry.
"We remain fully committed to fostering an environment that supports and respects the rights and beliefs of all individuals. The diversity of our team is an important aspect of our unique culture and our success as a company, and we did not mean to disappoint you, our team or our valued guests.
"Going forward, we will soon begin a strategic review and analysis of our decision-making process for financial contributions in the public policy arena. And later this fall, Target will take a leadership role in bringing together a group of companies and partner organizations for a dialogue focused on diversity and inclusion in the workplace, including GLBT issues.
"Thank you for sharing your input and for your continued commitment to making Target an even stronger company."
Steinhafel's apology comes as groups like the Human Rights Campaign ( HRC ) and the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce criticize Target's donation as running contrary to the inclusive values the company touts. HRC produced a video the same week of Steinhafel's apology alerting its members to the controversy. In the video, ominous music plays as HRC lists Minnesota gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer's record on LGBT issues and calls on Target and Best Buy, which also made a donation to Minnesota Forward, to "make it right."
Following the Target apology, HRC said Steinhafel's effort fell short. "We appreciate Mr. Steinhafel's statement to company employees this afternoon but it doesn't go quite far enough. Target's apology is welcomed but without tangible action behind it, the LGBT community and our allies will continue to question the company's commitment to equality. …Target can still make it right by making equivalent contributions to equality-minded organizations and by making clear the procedure by which they will evaluate potential contributions in the future to include issues of LGBT-equality."
Target, however, has not indicated if the company will make an equal contribution to an LGBT-friendly organization. A spokesperson for the Minnesota-based retailer would not comment on that possibility, and Steinhafel's statement to employees leaves ambiguous how the company will evaluate its political contributions in the future.
Target's image as an LGBT-friendly corporation is juxtaposed against the company's history of political giving. Target has long been a booster of Republican and conservative causes and, as recently as 2007, Minnesota state records indicate that Steinhafel gave at least $1,000 to Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, whom HRC has said "may be the single most strident opponent of equal rights in the entire U.S. Congress."
