NYC Pride works with numerous corporate partners who support the production of our extensive roster of events each year, including free events such as The Rally and PrideFest, as well as our multitude of community grant programs. Among our most supportive and long-standing partners is Target Corporation, which was a founding sponsor of our Youth Pride event and has been a Platinum sponsor of NYC Pride for many years.
In recent days, Target made the decision to remove queer- and trans- affirming merchandise from store shelves, citing threats and violent behavior from individuals seeking to erase LGBTQIA+ individuals. While NYC Pride deeply values our longstanding partnership with Target, we are disappointed that this merchandise was pulled from store shelves. We understand the risks that have been posed to store employees, but we are equally troubled that Target conceded to bad actors, setting a worrisome precedent for the broader LGBTQIA+ community, many of whom live in fear for their own safety each day.
NYC Pride has a duty to both support our partners and hold them accountable. Like others in our community, we strongly call upon Target to reaffirm its commitment to the LGBTQIA+ community by reinstating all Pride merchandise on sales floors and taking measures to ensure the safety of team members on the front lines. We have stated our position directly with Target, and will continue to evaluate our partnership going forward as we strengthen our solidarity with the LGBTQIA+ community.
Media Contacts:
David Clarke | Sr. Communications Manager
Dan Dimant | Media Director
ABOUT HERITAGE OF PRIDE Heritage of Pride, Inc. is the volunteer-directed organization behind the official NYC Pride roster of events. Heritage of Pride’s mission is to work toward a future without discrimination where all people have equal rights under the law. We do this by producing LGBTQIA+ Pride events that inspire, educate, commemorate, and celebrate our diverse community.
