Corporate America Scrambles as Pride Month Collides With Boycotts

Anti-LGBTQ sentiment has grown louder and more violent this year.

Pride Month merchandise is displayed at a Target store in San Francisco on May 31.

Photographer: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
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Retailers rolling out themed merchandise and campaigns for June’s Pride month celebrations are increasingly finding themselves targeted by anti-LGBTQ groups threatening boycotts and violence. The attacks are forcing large US companies to swiftly craft a corporate response while both critics and advocacy groups watch closely.

Kohl’s Corp. is the latest company to face calls for a boycott over its Pride-themed collection, with online comments particularly focused on an infant onesie with a design that features the Progress Pride Flag. The swell of conservative criticism comes a week after Target Corp. moved some of its Pride displays to less prominent positions and pulled merchandise from its website, citing threats made against its employees and stores. A representative for Kohl’s didn’t respond to a request for comment.