In the 90s, issues like boycotting were largely in the realm of escapist ideologues. If Disney had one gay character or if there was some vague insinuation that the clouds in a Disney classic appeared to be a sexual organ, evangelicals would quickly boycott Disney and argue that if you sent one of your kids to Magic Kingdom, you were destroying their souls and furthermore, compromising the Gospel.
I argued against this on at least a couple of occasions publicly. I made the point that food offered to idols was now clean, and they were free to buy. The financial support of a product, especially entertainment, should not be the determining factor in daily transactions. This was especially clear when their numbers were insignificant. After all, if we took this to its logical conclusion, we would be limited to few public transactions and rely exclusively on intramural bodies to procure our goods since virtually every major item sold is connected to some level of theological obstruction.
When I wrote a synopsis of the Target situation some days ago (link in comments), Pastor Jeff Meyers noted that things have changed at this point dramatically. He observed that “Now we are being lectured to about immorality.” In the last few days, Target has claimed in a public statement that the fear of violence against their workers–which so far includes an overweight man pushing a poster down–has caused them to move their LGBTQ paraphernalia to the back of the store. Of course, their fear is strongly associated with the Bud Light boycott. As you recall Bud Light now has Mulvaney’s buyer remorse. The boy that plays dress-up has damaged their brand and their marketing plot to sell beer dressed in skim milk outfits.
Megan Basham, one of the finest journalists out there has argued conclusively that Target is now employing victimhood strategies. They argue that we are–to use Jerry Bowyers’ language–“violent anti-Tuck vigilantes,” seeking around whom we may devour. But it’s all a facade. They know that they are being blasted for their outrageous queer performance. They are promoting and protecting their favorite customers.
Target is doing the prequel movement to the main event of June PRIDE. They are fully religious and promote their religion by selling their clerical garments, which include options for every conceivable pronoun of little pagan priests out there. Now they are retreating. But that retreat is too meager. These kinds of religious aficionados need to be put in their place, and I’d like to see them shivering in financial fear.
Target is a religious organization seeking to baptize their infants in the waters of PRIDE–pride in unbelief, pride in disorientation, pride in chaos, pride in promiscuity, and pride in disorder.
Our role is to navigate these times incrementally. We need to boycott strategically, and Target has put itself up for practice. So, what I propose is simple, lacks plenty of sophistication, and has already been offered as an option by notable figures. I wish to join their efforts and boycott these perverts in the month of June. This could be extended if they don’t feel enough weight from our decisions, but a one-month trial is a good starter.
I am certain there are those of you who have already done this, but we need a public conscience and public voices to state the obvious. This level of intolerance towards truth cannot be supported by the tithes of Christians. Therefore I refuse to offer another penny to the proselytizing and religious training at Target.
