Target faces backlash for Pride display controversies 

Following Target’s announcement last week that it removed products and relocated Pride displays to the back of certain stores in the South, activists in the LGBTQ+ community are calling for new campaigns to convince corporate leaders not to cave to anti-LGBTQ+ groups, according to the Associated Press.

The retailer said its actions were aimed at ensuring the safety and well-being of its employees after protesters knocked over Pride signs and confronted workers in stores.

 Nearly 500 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been introduced in state legislatures around the country this year. At least 18 states have enacted laws restricting or banning gender-affirming care for transgender minors.

 The hostile environment has prompted some groups to hire security consultants to advise them on activities planned for Pride Month, which begins on Thursday. Some see the hostility toward Target and other retailers as just the latest obstacle in a decades-long struggle for equality.