Tag Archives: donations

BUSTED! – Chick-fil-​A Foundation​’s Anti-Gay Donations DOUBLED!

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Zach Ford of Think Progress is reporting that from searching Chick-fil-A’s WinShape Foundation’s IRS 990’s for 2011 it has discovered that the companies anti-LGBT donations have nearly DOUBLED in 2011 compared to 2010.

Most of Chick-fil-A’s WinShape  Foundation’s anti-LGBT giving in previous years went to groups like the Marriage & Family Foundation ($1,188,380 in 2010), the Fellowship Of Christian Athletes ($480,000 in 2010), and the National Christian Foundation ($247,500). Additionally, the group made small donations to the “ex-gay” group Exodus International ($1,000) and the hate group Family Research Council ($1,000).

In 2011, the group actually gave even more to anti-LGBT causes. Its contribution to the Marriage & Family Foundation jumped to $2,896,438 and it gave the same amount to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and National Christian Foundation as it had in 2010. In total, the anti-LGBT spending exceeded $3.6 million — almost double the $1.9 million from the year before.

While the group gave nothing directly to Exodus International or FRC, a large amount of Chick-fil-A/WinShape money still made its way to those groups. The National Christian Foundation (aka the National Christian Charitable Foundation) gave $4,100 to Exodus International and a stunning $1,260,040 to to the Family Research Council. This was possible, in part, because of the $247,500 it received directly from WinShape and because the WinShape-backed Marriage & Family Foundation also transferred $870,834 to the group — the self-described “largest Christian grant-making foundation in the world.”

This must come as a HUGE surprise to Shane Windmeyer of Campus Pride who’s been holding dialogues and has developed a “special friendship” with Chick-fil-A President Dan Cathy.

This past week Chick-fil-A shared with me the 2011 IRS Form 990, filed in November for the WinShape Foundation, along with 2012 financials.  The IRS has not released the 990 to the public yet, but the financials affirm Chick-fil-A’s values a year prior to the controversy this past July. The nearly $6 million in outside grant funding focuses on youth, education, marriage enrichment and local communities. The funding reflects Chick-fil-A’s promised commitment not to engage in “political or social debates,” and the most divisive anti-LGBT groups are no longer listed.

Well Shane, at least you were partially right.  Chick-fil-A just gave money to organizatiosn that  IN TURN GAVE IT TO the most heinous anti-LGBT groups.

Perhaps Shane never heard of the age-old saying.  “Don’t count your Chick-fil-A ‘s before they’re hatched.”

[spoiler]IDIOT.[/spoiler]

HRC States That Anti-Gay Politicians Made Gains in the 112th Congress – Is The HRC Doing Its Job?

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According to the Human Rights Campaign’s latest Congressional Scorecard overall support in Congress for LGBT rights has decreased significantly over the past two years.

For the 112th Congress, the average score for members of the House of Representatives stands at 40 percent compared to 50.8 percent two years ago. Senators scored an average 35 percent compared to 57.3 percent two years ago.

Of coarse part of the drop in support for LGBT rights can be credited to Republican gains in the 2010 midterm elections but is something else a foot here.

But is the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) the largest LGBT equality-rights advocacy group and political lobbying organization in the United States doing its job and spending your contributions wisely?

HRC raises roughly between 25 and 35 million dollars a year.  Yet in political lobbying arena on Capitol Hill, HRC spends only between 1 -2 million dollars a year on  over 40 specific issues which not only covered LGBT issues but also on immigration reform and women’s rights issues.

To be fair HRC has spent much money in 2012 fighting for State Marriage ballot questions.  But in reality even if these do get passed are they not still  separate and not equal marraige laws as long as the Federal Government will not recognize them and give gay married couples the same benefits and respect as they so to opposite married couples while DOMA still stands?

According to HRC’s 2011 990 Tax Return  HRC spent over 20 million dollars on land, building and equipment costs, over 4.5 million in mortgages and notes, and almost 4 million in general salaries but spent only spent 1.7 million dollars lobbying on Capitol Hill for LGBT Equality.

In my opinion the Republican increase during the 2010 midterms is only partially to blame for our decreasing lack of LGBT support in Congress.

Its about time people see and understand what thier donations are really going to when they donate to the Human Rights Campaign.

Perhaps is more money was used on lobbying and less on swanky office space and bloated salaries we might be further along than we are today in our queast for equality.

 

TARGET Launches Line of Gay Pride T-Shirts – Seriously?

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TARGET  who just two years ago, Target was under fire for its donations to MN Forward, a  Republican PAC supporting anti-gay candidate Tom Emmer is now selling a line of Gay Pride-themed T-shirts (only) online this year, which TARGET spokesman say grew out  of “a grass-roots effort among employees and the company’s LGBTA (lesbian, gay,  bisexual, transgender and allies) Business Council”.

The T-Shirts, ten in all are featured on Target’s website . Two  feature a design by  Gwen Stefani, which reads, “Love is  love.” Each Pride T-shirt sells for $12.99, all of which will be donated to the  Family Equality Council. Donation will capped at $120,000.

TARGET gave outright the GOP Political Pac which supported anti-gay Tom Emmer $150,000.00

Family Equality Council’s Jennifer Christler insists that Targets past donations to Tom Emmer and anti-gay Republican PAC’s had nothing to do with it.

“I certainly recognize what an incredible  reaction [the Emmer-related donation] generated,” said Jennifer Chrisler, the  council’s executive director. “But here’s what I know about TARGET and their  work with us: They’re 100 percent committed to the goal of families being  respected in all communities including parents who happen to be LGBT. This is  just a continuation of that support.”

With that being said where does TARGET stand on Minnesota’s impending ballot measure that would constitutionally ban same-sex  marriage in their corporate headquarters state?

A non-committal one as the Star Tribune reports:

Target, the $70 billion cheap chic retailer, hasn’t taken a public stand on the  amendment. In a statement, the company notes its “long history” of supporting  the LGBT community but acknowledges “there is a broad range of strongly held  views on the [Minnesota] Marriage Amendment.” The company goes on to encourage  employees to exercise their right to vote.

Just the fact that TARGET is selling these shirts online ONLY is akin to sitting on the back of the bus.   They clearly want your money but they don’t want the bulk of thier in-store customers to see that they are  selling these tee shirts and TARGET has never apologized for the Emmer donation and still donates to GOP Pacs and politicians.

TARGET obviously wants it both ways but in reality is doing NOTHING in Minnesota or to actual advance  equal protection for LGBT citizens.

Don’t buy TARGET’s  bullshit and don’t buy these ugly assed tee shirts.

Source: The Star Tribune

The HRC Wants To Make Money Off Your Same Sex Marriage – Emily Post Would Shit

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This may not be as low as the Human Rights Campaign originally buying Harvey Milk’s Camera Store to turn into a gift shop but it’s pretty damn close.

The HRC is setting up its own sort of “donation wedding registry” called Millions for Marriage Equality –  where couples can encourage their friends and families to support the work of the HRC in lieu of gifts and in “honor of a wedding celebration.”

And as David Badash of The New Civil Rights Movement points out the HRC’s new wedding registry donation program. “isn’t even hosted by HRC, but by their marketing partner, Convio.”

Now for those of you with short memories please remember that this is coming from an  organization who publicly derided; the couples that filed the lawsuit that got Prop 8 declared unconstitutional, the organization that filed suit to end DADT, and legal action that had part of DoMA declared unconstitutional. And right after each success HRC had their people out on the street fund raising saying that HRC was behind the actions when they were an impediment to those legal actions.

Yes they did work for same sex marriage in New York.  But that is their job after all and they currently raise over 45 million dollars a year to do it, own an 8 million dollar office building, and pays its President Joey “Botox Boy” Solmonese over $350,000.00 a year.

Besides, it is entirely improper to EVER state that a gift is needed . It is tasteless in the extreme to tell one’s friends and family what to give for any occasion. One is to be delighted that friends and family cared enough about the occasion to give one anything at all. For HRC to stand at the gift table with its hands open to attempt to make money off of the wedding celebrations of the LGBT community is inexcusable, crass, and plain offensive

Video – Scott "Cosmo" Brown Selling His Soul To Union Busting Koch Brothers Masterminds For Donation Money

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In the 80’s GOP Scott “Cosmo brown had no trouble stripping down for Cosmopolitan magazine to make a few bucks 

Fast Forward 30 years and “Cosmo” who’s now Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA) has no problem selling his soul, er I mean asking asking billionaire tea party, union busting, conservative financier David Koch for money either.

BROWN: Your support during the election, it meant a, it meant a ton. It made a, it made a difference and I can certainly use it again. Obviously, the uh . . .

KOCH: When are you running, uh, for the next term?

BROWN: ’12.

KOCH: Oh, okay.

BROWN: I’m in the cycle, I’m in the cycle right now. We’re already banging away. But you guys should all be very proud. I mean this is amazing. I’ve actually taken the tour and uh just the things you aim to attack this issue is, is huge

The funny thing is that Koch doesn’t seem to recognize or care who Brown is and Brown doesn’t seem to realize that the Tea Party has targeted the Senator for his “moderate” votes, like supporting DADT’s repeal.

Scott perhaps you should just strip for Playgirl to get some $$$’s for your next campaign.  You still have some dignity left at least you’ll keep your soul….if you still have one.

TARGET Gave Money To Tom Emmer, Tom Emmer Donated Money To "Kill The Homos’ Christian Rock Band "Junkyard Prophets" – The Trickle Down System Of Homophobia

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Last night Rachel Maddow took a closer look at the boycott of Target and Emmer’s donations to You Can Run But You Cannot Hide, a Christian ministry fronted by the band Junkyard Prophets.  And surprise, surprise Junkyard Prophets supports the radical Muslim ideology that calls for executions of homosexuals.

When Emmer asked of the You Can Run But You Cannot Hide Ministries he replied: “These are nice people.”

Watch as Rachel Maddow reports:

BUSTED! – TARGET Anti-Gay Political Donations Have Been Going On For Years, Despite "Apology" 240,000 Boycott Signatures Delivered To TARGET Corporate Offices (Video)

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Target CEO Gregg Steinhafel has come out with a statement that states the company is “genuinely sorry” for donating $150,000 in cash and services to the political action committee MN Forward which has been backing anti-gay MN Candisdate Tom Emmer.  . Steinhafel also told employees (and, by proxy, consumers) today, “We remain fully committed to fostering an environment that supports and respects the rights and beliefs of all individuals.”  (But Target DID NOT make a matching donation to any pro-gay political group to balance it out) 

But according to The Awl’s Abe Sauer, “Further research shows that Target has funneled significant funding to the most socially conservative of Republicans and that it boasts a frightening culture of anti-gay candidate support from Target’s own stable of top executives.”

*Read more about Target’s other anti-gay political donations and Watch The Video of the 240,000 boycott signatures being delieved to Target Headquarters after the jump……
It also turns out that CEO Gregg Steinhafel has personally  personally donated money to the campaign of that hateful crazy bitch Rep. Michele Bachmann.  And thats not all.

Target’s current group of top corporate officers have supported a murderers row of anti-gay politicians. Even more confusing, some of those anti-gay candidates supported by Target’s PAC and its executives don’t even represent Minnesota.

Of the small handful of donations he’s made, Target CFO Douglas Scovanner has given to both Rep. John Kline and Rep. Erik Paulson. John Kline joined Bachmann with a group of Republican members of Congress who put their names on a lawsuit to force the District of Columbia to put gay marriage to a Prop 8-like referendum. Meanwhile, Paulson supports amending the constitution to ban gay equality.

Of the five candidates to whom Target CMO Michael Francis has donated, three are George W. Bush and the aforementioned John Kline and Erik Paulson. Target’s Chief Information Officer Beth Jacob gave her largest personal donation ever to Erik Paulson. John Kline also received money from Terrence Scully, Target’s president of financial services. So did anti-gay amendment-supporter Mitch McConnell, who isn’t even a representative of Minnesota

Target’s own PAC, the newly formed Citizens Political Forum, has been funneling money to groups like Freedom First PAC, the who are made up of supporters of outgoing Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, whose is also anti-LGBT equality.

It’s one more way some of the billions Target generates every year finds the pockets of bigoted anti-gay politicians.

Yes, CEO Gregg Steinhafel is sorry……..SORRY THEY GOT CAUGHT.

THE BOYCOTT CONTINUES!

Today Randi Reitan, the woman seen on YouTube last week cutting up her Target charge card to protest Target’s action was joined by her husband Phillip and Son Jacob to deliver signatures of 240,000 people across the nation to the Target CEO.pledging to boycot Target.

JOIN THE BOYCOTT!

Target Doesn’t Give A Flying F@#k About Its LGBT Customers And Other Reasons We Should Boycott Target

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A reader at another website  recently sent Target an email telling them that they had closed their charge account and will no longer be shopping at Target because of Target’s donation of $150,000 to MN Forward, which in turn donated that money to anti-gay Republican Candidate Tom Emmer.

In response Target sent the following e-mail: (In form letter format)

Target has long believed that engaging in civic activities is an important and necessary element of operating a national retail business. What’s more important than any one candidate’s stance on a particular issue is how we nurture thoughtful, long-term growth in the state of Minnesota.

Our support of causes and candidates is based strictly on issues that affect our retail and business objectives. To continue to grow and create jobs and opportunity in our home state, we believe it is imperative to be engaged in public policy and the political process. That is why we are members of organizations like the Minnesota Business Partnership, the Chamber of Commerce and many others. And that is why we decided to contribute to MN Forward.

MN Forward’s objective is to elect candidates from both parties who will make job creation and economic growth a top priority. We operate best when working collaboratively with legislators on both sides of the aisle. In fact, if you look at our Federal PAC contributions year to date, you will see that they are very balanced between Republicans and Democrats. For more information please visit www.target.com/company, and view the Civic Activity page.

Target has a large stake in Minnesota’s future, which is why it is so important to be able to provide jobs, serve guests, support communities and deliver on our commitment to shareholders. As an international business that is proud to call Minnesota home, it is critical that we have a business environment that allows us to be competitive. Our guests, team members, communities and shareholders depend on Target to remain competitive.

Thanks for taking the time to share your feedback.

Sincerely,
Jennifer Hanson
Target Executive Offices

Between this email and Targets biggest arument on why we shouldn’t be pissed at them, “We have a 100% rating from the HRC”, and the fact that it is dragging it’s feet in at least making a matching donation to some pro-LGBT candidates or PAC’s  to at least smooth the waters.   It really does makes it obvious that Targets thinking is:  Business first, everything else second, and fuck our LGBT customers third.

Now its hard to fault a business for looking out for it’s own business.  But c’mon is there really any political candidate out there that is anti-business?  Or whose sole political platform is to close businesses down and screw with our economy. 

No.

 So what is Target’s problem?

Quite simply it’s caught the Tea Party Syndrome.  Yes the dreaded Tea Party Syndrome.  Now I’m not saying that Target  is affiliated with or has anything to do with the Tea Party.  But like the Tea Party they are supporting and backing Political candidates and platfroms based on only a small criteria of the candidates overall issues.  For the Tea Party it’s fiscal responsibility, and for Target it’s all about busisness and for both its fuck the rest of the issues its about whats best for me and me alone”, which is not only dangerous but socially and morally irresponsible.  And for that alone Target no longer deserves our patronage. 

Which brings me to my next point.  Why all the hemming anfd hawing over a boycott of this low class Pottery Barn wannabe?  How else are you goign to make your displeasure known and actually make an impact?  Write a letter or send an email?  How many emails do you “delete” a day without even looking at them?  Do you think that they even care and will take any action because they get some emails?  No.  But when the first weeks reciepts come in and theres a noticeable drop in profits and revenues they will.  Especially since to them  it’s all about the money. 

So to all you bitching and moaning out there about boycotting Target I ask why?  Why would you even want to shop somewhere that does not support your rights?  Also in case you don;t know there’s not a helluva lot of difference between Target and Walmart other than its HRC Score. Which I guess we can throw out the window now.

In reality in terms of wages and benefits, working conditions, sweatshop-style foreign suppliers, and effects on local retail communities, big box Target stores are very much like Wal-Mart, just in a prettier package. And of more than 1,400 Target stores employing more than 300,000 people nationwide, not one has a union. Employees at various stores say an anti-union message and video is part of the new-employee orientation. 

So they sort of suck anyway and for the same reasons that you won’t shop at Walmart. 

Anyway you cut it its not any classier or better to shop at Target.  PERIOD.

The Human Rights Campaign Has Written A Letter And Wants Target And Best Buy To "Make Things Right" (Especially Since They’ve Screwed Their Corporate Scoring Index)

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Before this whole debacle with Best Buy and Target a conservative PAC supporting anti-gay gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer of MN.  BOTH Target and Best Buy recieved 100 percent scores from HRC’s Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index   And do you know why? Because  HRC  created a separate score for how a company treats its gay employees and not gays in general.

The Awl’s Abe Sauer talked to HRC spokesman Michael Cole, “It’s important to understand that the CEI is a measure of the workplace practices of a company toward its own LGBT employees. We don’t believe that rating companies based upon their political contributions is an accurate reflection of their commitment to LGBT equality in the workplace.” Moreover, “Unless the contribution is to a ballot initiative that is anti-LGBT (such as California’s Prop. 8 in 2008), political contributions are not factored into a company’s score.”

So basically HRC is sayiong that if a company’s money goes to into a PAC, which can choose to spend its cash however it pleases, then the company doesn’t see its CEI score fiddled with. Only if the company directly moves money into an anti-gay ballot measure will HRC knock it down a few points, as 15 points of the CEI score is derived from “Responsible Citizenship,” defined as, “Employer exhibits responsible behavior toward the LGBT community; does not engage in action that would undermine LGBT equality. Employers found engaging in activities that would undermine LGBT equality will have 15 points removed from their scores.”

So donating to a PAC who gives money to and backs a candidate who believes in marriage discrimination is fine with HRC and it’s Corporate Index.  Just another shining example of just how USELESS HRC and Gay Inc. REALLY IS!

So HOW IS the Human Rights Campaign handeling this?……..

THEY’VE WRITTEN A LETTER!

Yes a letter that will be published in  in the Minnesota Star-Tribune (Because GOD FORBID they actually part with some money and also place it n the NYT or  other major newspapers to put some pressure on Target/Best Buy) asking Target and Best Buy to “make it right” with equivalent donations “to groups that support candidates who will put all Minnesota families first and fulfill the promises of our highest ideals.”

Yea.  That will work.

 Fucking worthless.

Grandmother Boycotts Target, Returns Purchases and Cuts Up Credit Card In Protest Of Targets Donation To Anti-Gay Politicial Group (Video)

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The  Target Corporation last week donated  $150,000 to Minnesota Forward, a group staffed by former insiders from outgoing anti-gay Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s administration. MN Forward is running TV ads .supporting Republican Tom Emmer’s campaign for Minnesota governor.

Targets Chief Executive Officer Gregg Steinhafel assured employees at the company’s Minneapolis headquarters in an e-mail that  the company doesn’t have a social agenda or necessarily agree with all the positions of candidates it supports. “Let me be very clear,” he said, “Target’s support of the GLBT community is unwavering, and inclusiveness remains a core value of our company.”

Well thst snow job was NOT good enough for Grandmother, and Mother to a gay son Randi Reitan who shops at Target but won’t anymore because of its anti-gay donation to Minnesota Forward PAC.  But thats not all Randi did,.  She took her protest to the store, bought and returned purchases, and cut up her Target credit Card in front of the staff and Manager.

“They’ve lost that $226.32. And they’ve lost every purchase from my family. What’s important in life is people. I love the people in my life. I love them more than anything I could buy at this store. I’m going to boycott Target until they make this right.”

I LOVE THIS WOMAN!.  I wish that she was my Mom.