Tom Webb, Pioneer Press –
When gay couples are ready to get married, Target is happy to help them celebrate.
The Minneapolis-based discount chain is running an ad featuring two grooms as an invitation to other gay and lesbian couples to set up their wedding registries at Target.
“Be yourself, together,” the text of the ad reads. “Build a Target Wedding Gift Registry as unique as the two of you.”
(PHOTO: Target in Mason City, Iowa.)
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.”
Target’s two-grooms ad drew a lot of online chatter this week, though it was originally unveiled in April. Snyder wouldn’t say precisely where it was running, except that it was “appearing outside of Target’s owned channels.”
Snyder said in a statement, “The Target Wedding Registry advertising campaign is designed to
reach all guests and represent the diversity of communities we serve. At the heart of our company are core values which include Target’s long-standing commitment to create an environment where all of our team members and guests feel welcome, valued and respected. We believe our current marketing is consistent with this value.”
Target operates in 49 states, and gay marriage is legal in five of them: New York, Iowa, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, as well as Washington, D.C. Next year Target will also open scores of stores in Canada, where gay marriage is legal nationwide.
Contributing to the chatter Friday was news of a $2.5 million contribution to Washington state gay-marriage forces from Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, which is a major rival of Target.
“Target doing same-sex wedding registries for an empty and meaningless marriage?”
Marriage is a beauty, which lays in the eye of the beholder. You can like it or not, however our Constitution gives them same-sex couples same rights and benefits as you get from marriage.
That, you cannot deny anyone, unless you go back to Judge Steven Douglas’s beliefs on freedom which dictated that only certain people were free to exercise self government. That only certain people were free to enjoy the fruits of their labor. That only certain people could marry. That only certain people could own property. That only certain people were actually people at all.
Turn back a century of Constitutional history, and Judicial precedent. At least you would feel better about wearing your sheet in public!
Target is my favorite store and will continue to be. I admire and respect them for being nonjudgmental and open-minded. I’m straight but have many gay friends and relatives. They happen to be some of my favorite people. As for you people who are narrow-minded, judgmental and just plain mean-spirited, you are NOT my favorite people.
Chick-fil-A is my favorite store and will continue to be. I admire and respect them for being nonjudgmental and open-minded in truth. Chick-fil-A has my support for being not afraid to speak up for what is true and correct.
You must have chicken on your mind.
Well that just breaks our ever loving heart!
Times must be tough. Target doing same-sex wedding registries for an empty and meaningless marriage? Amazing! I’m going to Target and do my wedding registry for a Big Mac from McDonald’s and myself.
Everyone knows same sex marriages never last. Target just cashin in on the opportunity.
Big Roast Beef from Arby’s is better!
I like to make the announcement that my dog Bubba Smoke Talladega and I are getting married this fall. We will be registed at Target this weekend. Bubba, a registered Mastiff really likes hotdogs and I’m kind of fond of chicken.
According to my current wife we both snore rather loud so we have a lot in common.
Be advised if you send cash I’ll just spend it on Alpo and Southern Comfort.
what will they think of next?