As Father’s Day and Summer Vacation Shopping Intensifies, American Family Association Continues #BoycottTarget

TUPELO, Miss.—As Americans prepare for a busy summer of Father’s Day cookouts, Fourth of July celebrations, vacations and even back-to-school shopping, American Family Association (AFA, www.afa.net) is continuing with its immensely successful #BoycottTarget campaign that began in April.

The boycott—with more than 1.3 million signatures behind it—moves forward, especially after Target executives made no effort at last week’s shareholder meeting to address concerns about the controversial bathroom policy that has Americans and family organizations deeply concerned.

“With Father’s Day this weekend and summer picnics and Independence Day family get-togethers just around the corner, Americans will be spending thousands of dollars on food, gifts, vacation supplies and much more,” said AFA President Tim Wildmon. “And much of that money will be spent at retailers other than Target, due to the retailer’s disregard for families. Target executives and marketing leaders should have thought twice about all the business that would go elsewhere before they publicized a policy that appeases a small minority and leaves the majority to find new places to shop this summer.”

Representing AFA at the shareholder meeting on June 8 was Public Policy Analyst Abraham Hamilton III, who reminded Target leaders, including CEO Brian Cornell, of the real possibility that sexual predators may take advantage of the policy, thereby putting women and children at risk.

Hamilton added that Target shareholders who share AFA’s worries were also present, but the corporate answer that the policy “is in the company’s best interest in the long term” was unchanged.

On May 12, AFA hand-delivered one million petition signatures to Target headquarters in Minneapolis, after which AFA leadership briefly met with Target senior management about the bathroom policy. Target executives reported that the company would not change the policy but would install private-stall family restrooms in stores not already equipped with them.

AFA is asking those aligned with AFA’s initiative to take action in the #BoycottTarget campaign in several ways:

1. Sign the #BoycottTarget pledge online.
2. Print the paper petition to distribute among friends and family members.
3. Print this AFA Pass Along Sheet to distribute among friends and family.
4. Call Target and politely let local managers know you are boycotting the store until policies change and how a boycott of this magnitude will hurt business. Find local Target store phone numbers here.
5. Share concerns on the Target Facebook page. When sharing on social media, use #BoycottTarget to help spread the word.

Also online, AFA is sharing the #BoycottTarget Alliance, which includes organizations such as Texas Values, Traditional Values Coalition, WallBuilders, American Decency, Mission: America, Illinois Family Institute, One Million Dads, One Million Moms, Faith 2 Action, Christian Action League, Family Council, Mass Resistance, Save California, Citizens for Community Values and the Florida Family Policy Council, among others.