While Life Site News and the Minnesota Child Protection League have the fantods about the "political correctness" of Minnesota's advertising industry, perhaps they should be worrying about just being correct with their own twitter social media campaing.
Bluestem dropped in to see what was up with the plan to have a truck wrapped with a fear-mongering, anti-transgender graphic visit every Target store in Minnesota when we captured the exchange above. We didn't recall the Steele County Target being a "SuperTarget" branded with the signage on the store above.
"Hannah West," an account that might have been created simply for this single tweet, was on to something. We contacted the Owatonna store and learned that indeed, it's just a regular Target and there's no "Super Target" signage on the building's exterior.
A simple slip-up? Logo fluidity? Media incompetence? All of the above?
On Tuesday, the Column's Andy Birkey reported in After MN billboard companies refuse anti-trans ad, group rents a truck:
The Child Protection League, a group that opposes LGBTQ rights, rented a truck with LifeSiteNews, a propaganda website for ultra-traditionalist Catholic theology, after Minnesota billboard companies refused to sell the duo an anti-transgender billboard for their Flush Target campaign.
Claire Chretien, national spokeswoman for LifeSiteNews’ #FlushTarget campaign, told the news outlet she works for — LifeSiteNews — that Minnesota ad agencies declined to do business with the two groups.
“We had to resort to using a billboard truck to get our message out after every billboard company in Minnesota turned down our advertisement,” Chretien added. “It would seem ‘political correctness’ has now trumped ‘free speech’ even in the advertising industry.”The Flush Target campaign takes aim at Target’s recent announcement that it does not discriminate against transgender and gender non-conforming customers and employees. The MNCPL and LifeSiteNews appears to be attempting to capitalize off of the American Family Association’s boycott of Target.
The religious right duo have also enlisted the help of veteran culture warrior Andy Parrish. A former staffer for former Rep. Michele Bachmann, he also served as campaign manager for the unsuccessful attempt to ban marriage equality in Minnesota. Parrish ran press for the Flush Target truck unveiling at the Minnesota Capitol on Monday.
Minnesota Public Radio's Riham Feshir had more on Monday in Target transgender bathroom policy sparks opposition campaign, including a cameo appearance by Rep. Glenn Gruenhagen, R-Glencoe, author of the Transgender People Can't Pee Bill.
Is it any wonder why the Minnesota House Republicans have taken up bills with language allowing blaze pink to be worn by deer hunters (something for the ladies) and bathroom bans? Let us recommend a good road map/GPS and less gender identity panic.
Screengrab: Flush Target not at the Owatonna Target.
If you appreciate Bluestem Prairie's original reporting and analysis, you can mail contributions (payable to Sally Jo Sorensen P.O. Box 108, Maynard MN 56260) or use the paypal button below:
Email subscribers can contribute via this link to paypal; use email sally.jo.sorensen at gmail.com as recipient.
Comments