Breaking: Target and General Mills career advancement threatened?
In yesterday’s Star Tribune, Katherine Kersten penned an opinion piece in which she makes the following claim:
At corporations like Target and General Mills, employees who believe children need a mother and father increasingly fear that making their views clear could threaten job advancement.
As a Target Team Member, I was shocked to read this claim made in such a public forum. I took to our internal microblogging tool (think Twitter) immediately and shared the link encouraging Communications to contact the author about using Target’s name while making such an absurd claim.
First, our executive committee, board and senior leadership team are made up of primarily heterosexual men and women. While we may have some diversity in the upper ranks, representation for LGBT leaders is limited (or at least the ones that feel comfortable enough to be out). There are a handful of senior leaders that attend one or two LGBTA Business Council events throughout the year, as they would any other business council.
Second, Target’s Christian Network is sponsored by a member of the Executive Committee. This individual reports directly into Gregg Steinhafel, CEO of Target Corporation. The Christian Network regularly posts Bible versus, conducts Bible Studies at work and has actively encouraged the reporting of any “social” or “political” statements at work. There have been multiple negative repercussions as a result of this action. I will not go into detail here how LGBTA team members have been impacted, but let me say: if anyone is “threaten[ed]” at work for their beliefs, it is those that oppose this mean-spirited amendment. With nearly 1,000 team members part of the Christian network, the claim made by this author, once again, seems absurd.
Third, openness is a cornerstone to Target’s culture. We have open door policies that encourage team members to have conversations with each other. However, in the case of same-sex equality, certain networks have explicitly stated to their team members not to discuss this topic. Per the above, instead, they recommend the filing of complaints. This is opposite to the culture that we promote, and, I would argue, damaging to every team member. Please don’t make a claim that your views could threaten your job advancement, when in reality, you refuse to even engage in the conversation and instead, work to punish those that do.
It’s clear that there are individuals who will continue to work to ensure the conversation around same-sex equality is stopped – whether they use techniques internally, or they take to public forums like this author has done. The whole situation saddens me as diversity and inclusion are true cornerstones to Target’s culture. It’s one of the reasons why I joined this great organization. I know that, together we can figure out how to navigate this topic. If we remain divided, though, we all lose.
Author’s note: Target team member involved with Target’s LGBTA Business Council and Christian Network. The views expressed in this post are my own and are no way affiliated with Target Corporation.
Update your Facebook profile pic
Here’s a fun image for your Facebook profile. Last week, in the midst of the “dump” General Mills rallies, I updated my profile pic with this image and included the text:
General Mills is being attacked this week because they publicly opposed the mean-spirited marriage amendment on Minnesota ballots this fall. Please take ONE minute to read the below blog entry and send General Mills a note of thanks for their support of diversity and inclusion.
http://minnesotaforequality.com/minnesota-marriage-hold-dump-general-mills-rallies-week/
Two companies that don’t think this amendment is good for Minnesota. In a previous post, I shared Target’s stance:
Target does not believe that a constitutional fight over the issue is good for Minnesota or the state’s ability to attract jobs and grow the economy. Consistent with our long-standing support of civic engagement, we are encouraging our team members to exercise their right to vote.
Feel free to “swipe” this image and use it in your social media circles as a way to show your appreciation for Minnesota businesses coming out against the amendment fight! You can also take action and send a letter of support.
Take Action: Send a Letter of Support
Yesterday, I posted a letter that the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) sent to 50 of Minnesota’s largest companies with a vague threat (referencing a Starbucks boycott the group staged). The goal of the letter is to get companies to stay neutral on the mean-spirited marriage amendment on ballots this fall.
So, I decided that it was time that we start sending our own letters. To make it easy, I included contact information for a couple of big companies below:
Best Buy
Phone: 1-888-BEST BUY (1-888-237-8289)
Mail: Best Buy Corporate Customer Care, P.O. Box 9312, Minneapolis , MN 55440
Online: Link
Target Corp
Phone: 1-800-440-0680
Mail: 1000 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN 55403
Online: Link
Cargill
Mail: PO Box 9300, Minneapolis, MN, 55440-9300
Online: Link
Ameriprise Financial
Phone: 1-800-257-8740
Online: Link
Oh, and also, PLEASE be sure to send General Mills a BIG thank you for coming out against the amendment!
General Mills
Phone: 1-800-248-7310 (7:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. CT, weekdays)
Mail: General Mills, Inc., P.O. Box 9452, Minneapolis, MN 55440
Online: Link
Target Corp Sells Same-Sex Greeting Cards
At the end of May, I blogged about how Target was introducing a line of tshirts for Pride as part of their “Wear it with Pride” campaign. For those of you who followed the story in the news, you know that Target received almost immediate backlash from the likes of the American Family Association, National Organization for Marriage (NOM) and several other organizations for taking sides on the fight for equality. In response, Target issued the following statement:
Target does not believe that a constitutional fight over the issue is good for Minnesota or the state’s ability to attract jobs and grow the economy.
Now, instead of backing down, Target has introduced a new line of greeting cards for same-sex couples. There are a variety of cards in the collection. For lesbian couples, there’s: “Two very special women, one very special love.” And then for gay couples, there’s: “Mr. & Mr.” On the inside, the card reads, “…a love story whose time has come! Congratulations.”
Please don’t think that I’m trying to sell you on greeting cards; that’s not the intent of my post. Rather, it’s to point out that even as companies face negative press and threats of boycotts, many are still willing to do the right thing. Kudos to those Minnesota companies that have said they don’t think this amendment fight is good for our state.
If you’re at Twin Cities Pride this weekend, please be sure to take a moment to stop by and thank those companies that continue to support our fight. And, if you get a chance, take five minutes out to drop those same companies an email or send them a letter to show your support. Our opponents have no problem sending emails and writing letters; let’s make sure that their voices aren’t the only ones leaders hear.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to go write out a card to the best lesbian couple I know. Shawnee and Raegan, this post is for you.
Author’s note: Target team member involved with Target’s LGBTA Business Council.
Marriage Amendment: Where Minnesota Corporations Stand
Here’s a great article that looks at where over a dozen Minnesota-based companies stand on the mean-spirited marriage amendment on ballots this fall. The article includes views from the following companies:
- Ameriprise Financial: No public position, it’s a state issue
- Best Buy: Solely focused on turning around their business
- Cargill: No public position
- Carlson Cos: No official position (however, I’ve already posted a couple times about CEO, Marilyn Carlson Nelson and her beliefs that this amendment will do much harm to the state of Minnesota if it were to pass)
- CHS: Does not take positions not directly affecting its business operations
- Ecolab: Does not comment on social issues
- General Mills: Opposes amendment (this blog has been busy over the past week with this news – 1, 2, 3)
- Medtronic: Not taken a position (however, former CEO, Bill George has spoken out in a big way saying that other “corporate leaders need to speak out forcefully against this amendment…”)
- St. Jude Medical: Does not believe the proposed constitutional amendment is in the best interests of Minnesota
- Supervalu: Will not engage in this ballot campaign
- Target: Does not believe that a constitutional fight over the issue is good for Minnesota or the state’s ability to attract jobs and grow the economy (I blogged about this a couple weeks back)
- 3M: Focuses on business issues, no stand on the amendment
- U.S. Bancorp: Amendment does not relate to their core business of banking
- Xcel Energy: Does not take positions on ballot questions that do not concern energy policy
So there you have it. As promised earlier this spring, I will continue to bring you news as I have it related to where companies in Minnesota stand on the amendment. Let’s hope others will follow General Mills’ lead this week and speak out for equality.
Target Corp. and the Marriage Amendment
Target supports inclusivity and diversity in every aspect of our business and has a long history of supporting the LGBT community through giving, volunteerism and event sponsorship and participation. Target does not believe that a constitutional fight over the issue is good for Minnesota or the state’s ability to attract jobs and grow the economy. Consistent with our long-standing support of civic engagement, we are encouraging our team members to exercise their right to vote.
Target Corp. statement to media
Source: Kare11.com
I posted about this earlier today, but wanted to repost the quote in its entirety. So very happy to see another corporation ‘come out’ against this mean-spirited amendment. Unfortunately, the other side is already lashing out at Target for simply supporting equality.
Author’s note: Target team member involved with Target’s LGBTA Business Council.
Target Corp. ‘Comes Out’ Against Amendment
You may remember a post I shared a couple weeks ago regarding Target Corp. and their neutral stance on the marriage amendment. Well, have I got news for you!
Last Sunday, the retailer announced a “Wear it with Pride” campaign featuring a collection of Pride tshirts just in time for summer. Tshirts include words like “Harmony” and “Pride.” One design in the collection was created by rocker Gwen Stefani and reads, “Love is Love.” Even better, 100% of the entire purchase price is being donated to the Family Equality Council (an organization working to promote equality for LGBT families).
Almost immediately, Target began receiving backlash from groups like Minnesota for Marriage and the American Family Association for, and I quote, “ramming same-sex marriage down the throats of the American people.” (source)
When groups like the AFA make such ridiculous statements, it mobilizes the LGBT community and their allies who help refute these claims. One of the posts I read last night said that Target was “attacking traditional marriage.” About half a dozen people posted in response asking the author how a collection of tshirts is threatening their marriage. One poster called out the irony behind leaders who make these claims and the fact that some of them have had three to four of their own “traditional marriages!” That made me chuckle.
In response to the hubbub, Target released the following statement:
Target supports inclusivity and diversity in every aspect of our business and has a long history of supporting the LGBT community through giving, volunteerism and event sponsorship and participation. Target does not believe that a constitutional fight over the issue is good for Minnesota or the state’s ability to attract jobs and grow the economy. Consistent with our long-standing support of civic engagement, we are encouraging our team members to exercise their right to vote.
Yeah. Read that again:
Target does not believe that a constitutional fight over the issue is good for Minnesota or the state’s ability to attract jobs and grow the economy.
I was sitting at my desk when one of my co-workers emailed me the link to theKare11.com article and I was floored! While Target has a long history of supporting the LGBT community (Pride, Project 515, Red Ribbon Ride, AIDS Walk, Bridge for Youth, Out & Equal, domestic partner benefits, partner discount, partner leave to name a few), I’m not sure I was expecting to see a statement like this considering the controversy over the Minnesota Forward donation a couple years back (which I talked about in my previous blog post). But I’ll take it!
Minnesota for Marriage has already used all of this to mobilize their base asking for each person to donate $100 to offset the dollars Target will donate to the Family Equality Council. I’m expecting that One Million Moms will probably have something to say about this whole situation as well.
But even still, this is a historic day as another one of Minnesota’s Fortune 500 companies has ‘come out’ against this mean-spirited amendment.
Thank you for supporting all families, Target. You make me very proud.
Author’s note: Target team member involved with Target’s LGBTA Business Council.
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Tweets
- Check out what a visitor to the site asked me to pass along to Father Mike Tegeder. RT if you agree. #minnesota #voteno
http://t.co/4iqhrFX211/09/2012 - #Minnesota nice? Yeah, we #voteno twice! Congratulations to to Minnesota for standing on the right side of history!11/07/2012
- #Minnesota #marriageamendment 78% reporting. #voteno at 50%; yes side has 49%. It's going to be a while before we call this one...11/07/2012
- #Minnesota #marriageamendment 47% reporting. Spread narrows. #voteno side still at 49%; yes side has increased their support to 47%.11/07/2012
- Check out what a visitor to the site asked me to pass along to Father Mike Tegeder. RT if you agree. #minnesota #voteno
