Target's anti-gay-rights lawsuit rejected by judge

j.reed

Seriously, who's running public relations for these guys?

Unfortunately for the retail giant, its lawsuit to get gay-rights activists to stop standing on the sidewalk near the front doors of several of its California locations got denied yesterday.

California Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Barton rejected Target's request for an injunction against the activists, ruling that the store entrances are a public forum under California law. Besides, the judge said, the corporation didn't produce any evidence that any of its customers actually minded being asked to sign a petition in support of gay marriage.

Target insists their beef isn't with the gay-rights agenda of the signature gatherers -- it's that they're violating the company policy against any "expressive activity" at all on Target property.

In a statement released yesterday, the corporation said it tried to gag the canvassers in order "to provide a distraction-free shopping environment."

Got that? It's not that Target has a problem with gay activists expressing themselves and participating in grass-roots democracy. It has a problem with everyone doing that.

Slick media spin, Target! With PR finesse like this -- to say nothing of your falling out with Lady Gaga and the whole bigot-funding crisis that got you in this mess in the first place, you're sure to have the people back on your side in no time.

Previous Coverage:

• Target's teabag-loving CEO lands company in hot water
• Human Rights Campaign calls out Target, Best Buy in full-page ad
• Target apologizes for funding Tom Emmer ad
• Target's gay problem keeps getting worse
• Human Rights Campaign counters Target's Emmer donation
• Target isn't sponsoring this weeks LGBT equality conference. Why not?
• Target changes political donation policy
• Lady Gaga dumps Target over anti-gay donations
• Target sues gay rights group