Politics & Government

Dear Target: Mayor Heilman Writes to the CEO

Mayor John Heilman tells the company of his displeasure over its financial contribution to a candidate who opposes equality for the LGBT community.

Target Corporation recently donated $150,000 to a political group called Minnesota Forward. The group backs pro-business candidates in statewide races, including a Republican candidate for governor, Tom Emmer, who opposes same-sex marriage.

Target Chief Executive Officer Gregg Steinhafel has since issued an apology, but gay-rights activists continue to boycott and press for more action. Below is the letter Mayor John Heilman wrote to Steinhafel, Chairman and CEO of Target Corportation. 

 

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Gregg Steinhafel
Chairman, President and CEO
Target Corporation
1000 Nicollet Mall
Minneapolis, MN  55403

Aug. 5, 2010 

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Dear Mr. Steinhafel,

            I am writing on behalf of our community to express our deep concern over your recent political contributions to a candidate for governor who has expressed opposition to equality for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. This contribution is contrary to your stated corporate policies and your past practices of being an employer committed to full equality for the LGBT community.

            Your company has stated publicly that the contributions were made because of your belief that the candidate is pro-business. This purported justification is unacceptable to our community for several reasons. First, when contributing to a candidate you need to consider the candidate's entire record, not just their position on business related issues. I seriously doubt that Target would support a candidate for public office who was pro-business but advocated racial segregation? Why then support a candidate who is purportedly pro-business but has spoken out against equality for members of the LGBT community?

             Second, if the primary goal of Target is to support pro-business candidates across the country, there are plenty of candidates for public office who are in favor of both business and equality for the LGBT community. For instance, our city government has consistently been in the forefront of the fight for LGBT equality yet consistently in support of businesses such as Target. In fact, funds from our redevelopment agency helped build the structure where your store is located in our community. Our community welcomed you warmly into our city and we have partnered with you on several occasions. Thus, I am certain you can find candidates who are pro-business and pro-equality for the LGBT community.

            Finally, despite your claim that you were supporting a pro-business candidate, opposition to equality for any group in our society is ultimately anti-business. Full equality for all groups in our diverse society ensures that all members of our society have meaningful employment opportunities and the resources to contribute to our economy. A commitment to equal rights for all also ensures that businesses can draw on the skills and talents of those who are most qualified. By contrast, opposition to equality undermines economic and business growth.

            A number of our local residents and organizations are calling for a boycott of Target and other selected actions against Target. These actions would not only be harmful to Target but they would likely be damaging to the goodwill you have generated in the past in our community. Until now, we have been able to point to Target as an example of a good corporate citizen and a company that has been steadfast in support of equality in the workplace. We are saddened to see this image tarnished by your serious misstep.

            I understand that you will not be able to obtain a return of your contribution, but there are several specific steps you can take in an attempt to rectify the damage you have done:

            1. First, you need to acknowledge that the contribution was ill advised and that you made a mistake. Your responses to date have largely pointed out your company's strong history of philanthropy and your strong record on equality within the workplace. While these past actions are certainly appreciated, they do not justify your support of a candidate who has expressed strong opposition to LGBT equality. In fact, your past actions supporting our community makes your current actions more hurtful to the community. Acknowledging that your contribution was not well considered will certainly be helpful in your efforts to control the damage in the community.

            2. Second, you need to adopt and adhere to a policy which precludes contributions to candidates whose values are not reflective of your corporate policy regarding equality for the LGBT community.  As I indicated earlier, you would certainly not support a candidate who was purportedly pro business but who supported racial segregation or segregation of the sexes. You should not be supporting candidates who are opposed to equality for the LGBT community.

            3. Third, you should identify those responsible for the contributions in question and take appropriate corrective measures against them for making contributions which seem contrary to your company's stated policies.

            4. While you cannot retrieve the contribution you have already made, you can make contributions of equal amounts to organizations which support candidates who are committed to advancing full equality for the LGBT community. The Human Rights Campaign is a national organization which supports candidates and lobbies on behalf of equality for the LGBT community. The Victory Fund is a national organization which supports open LGBT candidates for public office who support equality for the LGBT community. In California, Equality California is the main organization lobbying for equality for our community at the state level. At the local level, there are a number of other organizations you can support to counter your mistaken contribution.  I would be glad to discuss some of the locally based organizations you could support to help rectify the damage done to your corporate image.

            I look forward to hearing your response. My community is eager to hear what tangible steps you will take to correct your misguided political contribution. Please know that there are numerous organizations and individuals in the LGBT community including myself who are willing to work with you in an effort to repair the damage you have done. I look forward to hearing your response.

John Heilman
Mayor
City of West Hollywood

Cc:   Board of Directors, Target Corporation
Matt Zabel, Vice President, Government Affairs, Target Corporation
Timothy R. Baer, Executive VP, General Counsel, Target Corporation
Michael R. Francis, Executive VP & Chief Marketing Officer,
Target Corporation


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