Showing posts with label Human Rights Campaign. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Human Rights Campaign. Show all posts
Friday, May 6, 2011
Monday, March 28, 2011
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
CEO of Target Defends contribution to anti gay Minnesota Forward
Image via WikipediaMinneapolis, MN — Target's CEO is today defended the company's $150,000 political donation to fund anti-gay politics. Chief Executive Gregg Steinhafel is telling employees of the Minnesota-based retailer that the company's support of the gay community remains "unwavering."
Target has come under fire from LGBT groups, including the Human Rights Campaign, for giving $150,000 to a right-wing political action committee (PAC) known as Minnesota Forward, which in turn bought television ads for Minnesota Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer.
"I believe marriage is the union between one man and one woman," Emmer says on his website. "As a legislator, I have consistently supported the constitutional marriage amendment that protects traditional marriage."
Gay rights groups say it's unwise for Target to back the anti-gay Emmer, because his conservative views on abortion, gay marriage, immigration and the minimum wage could upset some Target shoppers.
Emmer has also been criticized for his association with a Christian rock band, which according to the Minnesota Independent has made statements concerning the morality of killing gays and lesbians.
"We rarely endorse all advocated positions of the organizations or candidates we support, and we do not have a political or social agenda," Steinhafel said in an e-mail published by the Associated Press. "Let me be very clear, Target's support of the GLBT community is unwavering, and inclusiveness remains a core value of our company."
The AP also reports that Best Buy, another Minnesota-based retailer, contributed $100,000 to the conservative PAC.
Target opened its new Chicago location in the Uptown neighborhood on July 20. Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, Ald. Helen Shiller (46th) and openly-gay state Rep. Greg Harris (D-Chicago) were at the opening.
Rep. Harris told ChicagoPride.com on Monday that he was surprised by the news.
"This shows how important effective campaign disclosure laws are, so that we can follow the money that supports candidates who actively work against our community or who fund anti-gay ballot initiatives," said Harris. "Companies like Target need to understand that they can't have it both ways when it comes to issues of our basic rights, and that the facts will eventually come out. I hope that they will rethink this contribution and find a way to make it right."
A Facebook group dedicated to boycotting Target continues to gain momentum.
Target has come under fire from LGBT groups, including the Human Rights Campaign, for giving $150,000 to a right-wing political action committee (PAC) known as Minnesota Forward, which in turn bought television ads for Minnesota Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer.
"I believe marriage is the union between one man and one woman," Emmer says on his website. "As a legislator, I have consistently supported the constitutional marriage amendment that protects traditional marriage."
Gay rights groups say it's unwise for Target to back the anti-gay Emmer, because his conservative views on abortion, gay marriage, immigration and the minimum wage could upset some Target shoppers.
Emmer has also been criticized for his association with a Christian rock band, which according to the Minnesota Independent has made statements concerning the morality of killing gays and lesbians.
"We rarely endorse all advocated positions of the organizations or candidates we support, and we do not have a political or social agenda," Steinhafel said in an e-mail published by the Associated Press. "Let me be very clear, Target's support of the GLBT community is unwavering, and inclusiveness remains a core value of our company."
The AP also reports that Best Buy, another Minnesota-based retailer, contributed $100,000 to the conservative PAC.
Target opened its new Chicago location in the Uptown neighborhood on July 20. Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, Ald. Helen Shiller (46th) and openly-gay state Rep. Greg Harris (D-Chicago) were at the opening.
Rep. Harris told ChicagoPride.com on Monday that he was surprised by the news.
"This shows how important effective campaign disclosure laws are, so that we can follow the money that supports candidates who actively work against our community or who fund anti-gay ballot initiatives," said Harris. "Companies like Target need to understand that they can't have it both ways when it comes to issues of our basic rights, and that the facts will eventually come out. I hope that they will rethink this contribution and find a way to make it right."
A Facebook group dedicated to boycotting Target continues to gain momentum.
Source: Chicago Pride dot com
Target Opening raises ire of Gays: Chicago Pride
Image via WikipediaChicago, IL — As the long-awaited Target opens in the Uptown neighborhood, the Minnesota-based retailer is coming under fire from LGBT groups, including the Human Rights Campaign, for a donation to fund anti-gay politics.
According to a report by Minnesota Public Radio, Target gave $150,000 to a political action committee (PAC) known as Minnesota Forward, which in turn bought television ads for Minnesota Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer.
"I believe marriage is the union between one man and one woman," Emmer says on his website. "As a legislator, I have consistently supported the constitutional marriage amendment that protects traditional marriage."
Gay rights groups say it's unwise for Target to back the anti-gay Emmer, because his conservative views on abortion, gay marriage and the minimum wage could upset some Target shoppers.
HRC released the following statement criticizing Target's support of Emmer: Target has worked hard to create a fair and equitable workplace for its LGBT employees, and should be proud of its leadership in this area. It is for this reason that HRC is very disappointed in Target's significant monetary contribution to Minnesota Forward, a group supporting the most clearly anti-LGBT candidate for Governor in Minnesota. We have reached out to Target to express our concern over this contribution. While political contributions to support candidates are not a factor in HRC Foundation's Corporate Equality Index, HRC finds it puzzling that Target would take great steps to support LGBT inclusiveness while simultaneously helping a candidate who shamelessly rejects equality for LGBT Minnesotans.
Emmer has also been criticized for his association with a Christian rock band, which according to the Minnesota Independent has made statements concerning the morality of killing gays and lesbians.
Bradlee Dean, the band's frontman, has been quoted as saying on his radio show, "Muslims are calling for the executions of homosexuals in America. Just shows you they themselves are upholding the laws that are even in the Bible of the Judeo-Christian God, but they seem to be more moral than even the American Christians do, because these people are livid about enforcing their laws. They know homosexuality is an abomination."
Dean has since attempted to clarify the statement on his website saying that he rejects the "actual practice of executing homosexuals." According to the Independent, Emmer's campaign donated $250 to the band in 2008.
A Target spokeswoman told MPR that the company does not support a particular party, but supports candidates that "directly effect the company's retail agenda."
Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, Ald. Helen Shiller (46th) and openly-gay state Rep. Greg Harris (D-Chicago) were at the opening of the Uptown Target on July 20. The new location is part of a development called Wilson Yard, which has been in the works for a decade.
Rep. Harris told ChicagoPride.com today that he - like many others - was surprised by this news.
"This shows how important effective campaign disclosure laws are, so that we can follow the money that supports candidates who actively work against our community or who fund anti-gay ballot initiatives," said Harris. "Companies like Target need to understand that they can't have it both ways when it comes to issues of our basic rights, and that the facts will eventually come out. I hope that they will rethink this contribution and find a way to make it right."
Target also opened its first-ever store in Manhattan last week.
According to a report by Minnesota Public Radio, Target gave $150,000 to a political action committee (PAC) known as Minnesota Forward, which in turn bought television ads for Minnesota Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer.
"I believe marriage is the union between one man and one woman," Emmer says on his website. "As a legislator, I have consistently supported the constitutional marriage amendment that protects traditional marriage."
Gay rights groups say it's unwise for Target to back the anti-gay Emmer, because his conservative views on abortion, gay marriage and the minimum wage could upset some Target shoppers.
HRC released the following statement criticizing Target's support of Emmer: Target has worked hard to create a fair and equitable workplace for its LGBT employees, and should be proud of its leadership in this area. It is for this reason that HRC is very disappointed in Target's significant monetary contribution to Minnesota Forward, a group supporting the most clearly anti-LGBT candidate for Governor in Minnesota. We have reached out to Target to express our concern over this contribution. While political contributions to support candidates are not a factor in HRC Foundation's Corporate Equality Index, HRC finds it puzzling that Target would take great steps to support LGBT inclusiveness while simultaneously helping a candidate who shamelessly rejects equality for LGBT Minnesotans.
Emmer has also been criticized for his association with a Christian rock band, which according to the Minnesota Independent has made statements concerning the morality of killing gays and lesbians.
Bradlee Dean, the band's frontman, has been quoted as saying on his radio show, "Muslims are calling for the executions of homosexuals in America. Just shows you they themselves are upholding the laws that are even in the Bible of the Judeo-Christian God, but they seem to be more moral than even the American Christians do, because these people are livid about enforcing their laws. They know homosexuality is an abomination."
Dean has since attempted to clarify the statement on his website saying that he rejects the "actual practice of executing homosexuals." According to the Independent, Emmer's campaign donated $250 to the band in 2008.
A Target spokeswoman told MPR that the company does not support a particular party, but supports candidates that "directly effect the company's retail agenda."
Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, Ald. Helen Shiller (46th) and openly-gay state Rep. Greg Harris (D-Chicago) were at the opening of the Uptown Target on July 20. The new location is part of a development called Wilson Yard, which has been in the works for a decade.
Rep. Harris told ChicagoPride.com today that he - like many others - was surprised by this news.
"This shows how important effective campaign disclosure laws are, so that we can follow the money that supports candidates who actively work against our community or who fund anti-gay ballot initiatives," said Harris. "Companies like Target need to understand that they can't have it both ways when it comes to issues of our basic rights, and that the facts will eventually come out. I hope that they will rethink this contribution and find a way to make it right."
Target also opened its first-ever store in Manhattan last week.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL) Outed from Closet After DADT Repeal Vote
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Former Washington, DC fundraiser and journalist form blogACTIVE.com Micheal Rogers knew Republican Illinois Senator Mark Kirk was a closeted gay, but only decided to "out" him when he found out Kirk was not one of the Senators voting for the repeal of DADT.
Times have changed. Now, for the first time in his congressional career, Mark Kirk really had the chance to stand up and do what is right with the power of a vote. When I heard that five GOPers voted to lift the Don't Ask Don't Tell ban I instinctively thought Kirk would be one of them. What a disappointment when he wasn't. The five were: Judy Biggert (R-IL), Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Ron Paul (R-TX), Joseph Cao (R-LA), and Charles Djou, (R-HI).
Rogers says Kirk had good ratings with the Human Rights Campaign, and formerly, the DADT repeal was more or less a dead issue.
Thus the matter of his being a closeted gay man (Kirk was married and divorced; the marriage produced no children) was not deemed too important.
Now that he has angered gay activists like Rogers and others, the claws are coming out: Huffington Post is running a piece about Kirk's lies about military awards he has received.
AFTAH defends Kirk
Predictably, Americans for Truth About Homosexuality (AFTAH) founder Peter LaBarbera , is more or less defending Kirk, and pointing to the evils of outing a gay man for not voting gay on all issues (true enough).
LaBarbera points out that his and Rogers' methods and rationale for outing closeted gay politicians are counter to eachother:
- Rogers will not out a closeted gay if he is doing all he can for gay advancement while in the closet
- Conversely, LaBarbera will not out a closeted gay unless he is using his political power to advance the gay agenda.
When — as in years preceding the Mark Foley scandal — talk of the VIP’s reported homosexuality becomes so widespread that it demands clarification, AFTAH and this writer ask politicians, potential judges and VIP media members the “Homosexual Question.” Deeply-held private biases affect public policy, so the voting public has a right to know those biases, especially when they are the target of hard-ball pressure politics. Of course, Michael Rogers — who queried this writer on the same question — comes at it from the opposite perspective.
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