Editor’s Note: Since this letter, Target hasn’t made a single change to its funding policies, even though it explicitly promised to do so.  Read the update here.

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To: Matt Zabel, Vice President of Government Affairs, Senior Public Affairs Officer;
Timothy R. Baer, Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary;
Gregg W. Steinhafel, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

Regarding: Your Public Policy and Support of Candidate Tom Emmer

I was recently informed that, in accordance with a 2010 Minnesota court ruling allowing corporations to fund political candidates and influence elections, Target has funded a television ad run by Minnesota Forward supporting the gubernatorial election of Tom Emmer.  The ad is in support of the local economy, a decrease in government spending, and an increase in job growth throughout the state.

What the ad doesn’t mention are Emmer’s sociopolitical leanings, which include the fervent support of a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage, or that Target’s choice to fund Minnesota Forward and, in turn, Mr. Emmer, goes directly against its public support of the gay community.

Target has, for many years, made a name for itself as a company that firmly supports gay and lesbian civil rights.  Not only does Target offer health benefits to couples in domestic partnerships, but it has also supported many gay pride events throughout its company’s home state of Minnesota.  Throughout the past two years, it has received top ratings in the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index (both 2009 and 2010), been listed as one of the Best Places to Work for LGBT Equality, and received the 2009 Rainbow Families Award and the 2009 Lavender Pride Award.

It is no secret that Target’s reputation is one of inclusion and support for the gay community, so it is no surprise that the company’s recent contribution of $150,000 to Minnesota Forward in direct support of Tom Emmer has caused confusion – and shock – in the same group that has for years applauded its progressiveness.

Your company’s defense of its support of Tom Emmer, a candidate so hostile against gay civil rights that the otherwise progressive Minnesota right wing calls him the most conservative GOP gubernatorial candidate in decades, is expressed in this statement (emphasis mine):

“Target supports causes and candidates based strictly on issues that affect our retail and business interests. In fact, Target’s Federal PAC contributions year-to-date are very balanced between Republicans and Democrats, and we work collaboratively with legislators and officials at all points on the political spectrum.

Target fosters civic engagement through a wide variety of nonpartisan efforts aimed at enhancing team member and citizen participation in the political process. We encourage team members and citizens to engage in civic activities in the ways that are most meaningful to them, as we believe that engaged communities are healthier and stronger communities.”

[Cut for length; read the entire statement at TheAwl.com.]

Your own Corporate Responsibility Report for 2009 agrees with this statement:

“Contribution criteria — Before any contribution is made,
we determine that it is consistent with our business interests
and, under the circumstances, is an appropriate means of
advancing our public policy position. This determination is
made either by our vice president of Government Affairs
and senior public affairs officer, executive vice president
general counsel and corporate secretary or our chief executive
officer.”

In short, Target’s position is that its support of gay advocacy – of the Twin Cities Pride Parade, of health benefits for gay and lesbian couples – is not related to its business interests or its stance on public policy.

And yet a major corporation’s social advocacy – or lack thereof – cannot help but affect public policy.

I understand that a corporation’s number one goal – the goal of its shareholders – is in its business interests, in making money.  However, I cannot help but wonder at your decision to favor a potential tax break  over a community you have supported, and that has rewarded you publicly for that support, for so many years.

As a corporation, your choice to offer health benefits and event funding to the gay and lesbian civil rights movement is a vital step toward civil equality.  To then fund a major political player that wishes to undermine the very basis of that civil equality negates those choices.  It undercuts them.

I’d like to think that the major players in the decision to fund Tom Emmer’s campaign were not aware of the inconsistencies the funding would create.  I’d also like to think that, with light being shed on Tom Emmer’s stance on gay civil rights, and how that stance flies in the face of Target’s practices of inclusion and social responsibility, that Target will issue a statement of its intent to reform its corporate responsibility guidelines and political contribution criteria to avoid this kind of errant funding in the future.

I’d like to think that I can continue shopping at Target, not only as a supporter of American companies and my local economy, but as a supporter of gay civil rights.

I look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

Jennifer Nicole Gray
jen@awakenedaesthetic.com

***To send a copy of this email to Target, along with your own comments of support for the gay civil rights movement, please fill out and send the form below.  [Image via Target.com.]

Tags: activism, advocacy, gay marriage, gay pride, gay rights, investorrelations@target.com, politics, public policy, target