Politics, pop culture and entertainment news of interest to the LGBTQ community
In this week’s podcast:
• Target became the target of anti-LGBTQ ire for its annual Pride Month merchandise
• The CDC reports new HIV infections are declining
• Montana bans ANYONE in drag reading to children
• Netflix gave us a first look at the upcoming Season 2 of its acclaimed queer-centric romantic series “Heartstopper” ahead of its premiere this August
All that and more in this episode of The Randy Report.
(images via The North Face)After releasing its Pride Month collection earlier this week, The North Face has shrugged at anti-LGBTQ haters who have made some noise online about the campaign. Continue reading “The North Face Stands By Its ‘Season Of Pride’ Campaign”
(image via Flickr – CC license)Target has announced it is “making adjustments” to their Pride Month plans by removing some of its Pride merchandise from stores as well as shifting the remaining items to the back of stores.
This comes after a small number of anti-LGBTQ customers have begun confronting store staff and managers, sometimes resulting in violence. Continue reading “Target Removing Pride Merchandise After Bigots Complained”
Some news items you might have missed:
• Bloomberg News: Grindr, the dating app that specializes in connections for the LGBTQ+ community, has agreed to go public through a blank-check firm in a deal that values the combined company at $2.1 billion. Continue reading “Grindr To Go Public At $2.1 Billion Valuation + More News”
Catching up on some of the day’s headlines:
• The Advocate: Target’s Pride Nutcracker is making the yuletide gayer selling out in stores across the country thanks to its popularity on social media. Continue reading “News Round-Up: November 15, 2021”
(sexy Santa via Depositphotos)Is this a case of an optical illusion or truly some ‘kinky boots?’
Some moms decided Santa’s boots depicted on a set of ‘Santa Dipped Chocolate Sandwich Cookies’ from Target look like the big man’s junk set out for all to see.
Others though just see some snow boots (with some well-placed frosting).
Target's 'kinky' Christmas cookies have moms boycotting — and giggling https://t.co/SHWDLcWBPw pic.twitter.com/AINKUDDSZF
— New York Post (@nypost) December 4, 2020
The New York Post spoke to one mom, Suzie Fromer, who called the cookies a “definite design fail” and added, “I would not send these to school.”
After sharing a photo of the treats on her Facebook page as a joke, one of Fromer’s mom pals asked, “What the hell is Santa’s penis doing there?”
Nicole Miller of Knoxville, Tennessee, initially loved the cookies telling a Facebook group “Such a great treat to have on hand for parties.” But after a friend pointed out Santa’s boots, Miller admitted she “couldn’t unsee” them.
Dipped Chocolate Santa Cookies from TargetBut any naughty interpretation of the snow boots was news to Target.
“We have not received any feedback directly on this item,” said Target in a statement to the New York Post. “The design is intended to represent Santa’s boots. We appreciate the feedback and will take it into consideration moving forward.”
In any case, the optical illusion continues on Twitter where some see what they want to see while others think Target moms have too much time on their hands.
Let me know what you think, readers? Are those boots or does Santa look happy to see you?
Why does that snowman have an erection?
— Andrew (@EngiNerd97) December 4, 2020
— Matt Clinton👻 (@mdc9767) December 4, 2020
Lol. Took me a while to figure it out… but once you see it, there’s no unseeing it 😂
— LeftRightOut (@userIDtaken) December 4, 2020
Oh the hillarity of dick boots
— JohnnyManic (@burns7L) December 4, 2020
I think target moms have too much time on their hands..
— K 🎄 (@tismelancholia) December 9, 2020
Um…. Guys they are stockings or boots
— The Good Earth (@Dogstar201) December 21, 2020
I'll take a dozen.
— Mike (@MikeScharf60) December 20, 2020
Just goes to show: once you go chocolate you don’t go back.
— No MAGAots (@NoMAGAots) December 4, 2020
How does a white as snow Santa have a big black cock?
— Magalomania (@Thedeadvotedem) December 4, 2020
Out professional soccer player Robbie Rogers is featured in a new commercial for Target’s new clothing line from Goodfellow & Co.
According to Outsports, the spot featuring Rogers has been airing during NFL Sunday football games.
Rogers, who came out in 2013, has a son with his fiancé, TV producer Greg Berlanti (Arrow, The Flash, Supergirl, Everwood).
By this point, I’m sure you’ve heard there are jerks out in the world who are way angry that super-department store Target issued a statement letting customers and employees know that the store has a very inclusive bathroom / changing room policy when it comes to transgender folks.
In other words, use whatever bathroom your gender identity aligns with.
On the other side of sanity, haters have signed a petition protesting Target’s position.
Not only that, but there are nutjob protesters now going into Target stores who just start shouting anti-transgender rants. I don’t know about you, but if I was a parent I’d be mad as hell at these folks scaring my kids.
Blogger JoeMyGod shared this video today of one such idiot who actually meets a transgender person, and he really becomes unglued over that.
It’s about 4 minutes, but watch how unhinged this guy is.
And by the way – the nut keeps saying “I can sue you if you touch me.” Really? Store security guards can’t ‘touch’ an unruly person like this?
If you go get rowdy in a bar, I know what happens there…
|
| Target CEO Brian Cornell |
Brian Cornell, CEO of Target Corp. told CNBC’s “Squawk Box” that the super-department store will stick with its policy of allowing transgender customers to choose the bathroom they wish to use.
Cornell also announced the company is expanding the number of family restrooms in its stores from 1,400 to 1,800 for people who worry about the mixing of sexes in bathrooms.
The Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports:
“We want to make sure we provide a welcoming environment for all of our guests,” Cornell said. “One that is safe, one that is comfortable.”
“Everyone deserves to feel like they belong,” Target said in its initial statement. “And you’ll always be accepted, respected and welcomed at Target.”
“We took a stance,” he said. “We’re going to continue to embrace our belief in diversity and inclusion, just how important that is to our company. But we’re also going to make sure our focus on safety is unwavering.”
He noted Target took a lot of criticism in the 1960s when it was one of the first retailers to use black models in its advertising.
“Back then, it wasn’t well received,” he said. “We had a lot of tough feedback. But sitting here today, we know we made the right decision.”
According to virulently anti-LGBT activist Tony Perkins, the haters have department store Target on the ropes due to a boycott launched against the super-stores’ policy of allowing transgender customers to use a restroom that aligns with their gender identity.
Via press release:
After more than 1.1 million people pledged to boycott Target, celebrities and corporations alike are having second thoughts about crossing Americans on such a consensus issue. The decision by the retail giant is not only sparking massive backlash, but it’s helping the country get a real picture of the controversy in North Carolina. It’s also shown liberals that without the big media’s cover, twisting the facts of the law, they’re all by themselves.
There’s even more evidence of that this week, as more singers are keeping their concert dates in North Carolina than canceling them. Even more telling, not one business has threatened to leave the state after seeing what happened to the retail giant — which has taken a $2.5 billion hit since letting grown men in women’s restrooms and dressing rooms. After executives announced the change, shares dropped 6 percent in just 10 days.
I’ll note that Target stock is currently trading at $80.01 (at this writing). One year ago today, the stock closed at $79.65.
Hardly bringing Target to it’s knees, is it?
As a matter of fact, I was at Target yesterday buying food and household items. Not only am I a regular customer, but I make point to go there thanks to the store’s inclusive policies.
So, suck it Perkins.