Target's CEO? Yeah, He Gave Money to Rep. Michele Bachmann

When it rains, it pours. In the case of Target, and their $150,000 donation that filtered its way to an anti-gay candidate running for governor in Minnesota, it's a virtual tsunami. Around the country, thousands of folks have expressed outrage that the retail giant would give financial resources to a political candidate with some notoriously anti-gay positions and friends.

Now comes word, courtesy of Abe Sauer at The Awl, that Target's CEO has personally given the maximum contribution allowable to one of the most anti-gay politicians in the entire United States — Rep. Michele Bachmann.

For those interested in a quick crash course on Rep. Michele Bachmann's position on LGBT issues, here are a few statements attributed to self-appointed queen of the Tea Party movement.

• If gay marriage were to become legal: "[Gay marriage] is an earthquake issue. This will change our state forever. Because the immediate consequence, if gay marriage goes through, is that K-12 little children will be forced to learn that homosexuality is normal, natural and perhaps they should try it."
• On people who are gay or lesbian: "If you’re involved in the gay and lesbian lifestyle, it’s bondage. It is personal bondage, personal despair and personal enslavement."
• Asked whether she hates gay people: "No, but ask my kids! (laughter)”

It should also be noted that Rep. Michele Bachmann voted against repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," and voted against expanding hate crimes legislation to include protections for sexual orientation and gender identity (and in so doing, managed to compare LGBT people to pedophiles).

All of that earned her a $5,000 check from Target CEO Gregg Steinhafel, the maximum individual contribution allowable by the Federal Election Commission. Oh, and to top it off, Gregg Steinhafel's wife Denise gave Rep. Michele Bachmann $5,000, too.

And the hole Target is in gets a little deeper ...

For their part, Target and Steinhafel issued a statement today to try and curb the increasing nationwide sentiment that the company is involved in some serious anti-gay political work.

"In the past week I’ve heard from some of you, including our GLBT team members, regarding your concerns with Target’s recent contributions to MN Forward, an independent expenditure committee that is supported by a broad coalition of large and small businesses throughout the state, including the Minnesota Business Partnership and the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce. As you know, Target has a history of supporting organizations and candidates, on both sides of the aisle, who seek to advance policies aligned with our business objectives, such as job creation and economic growth. MN Forward is focused specifically on those issues and is committed to supporting candidates from any party who will work to improve the state's job climate. However, it is also important to note that we rarely endorse all advocated positions of the organizations or candidates we support, and we do not have a political or social agenda," said Steinhafel. "In the context of this contribution, some of you have raised questions regarding our commitment to diversity, and more specifically, the GLBT community. Let me be very clear, Target’s support of the GLBT community is unwavering, and inclusiveness remains a core value of our company."

That's a lovely statement, but the reality of situation doesn't change much here. Like it or not, Tom Emmer (the anti-gay Minnesota gubernatorial candidate that Target's $150,000 made its way to) wants to bar gays and lesbians from getting married, and is a friend and financial supporter of a ministry that advocates violence and discrimination toward LGBT people. And like it or not, Target financially supported his campaign, even if the money wasn't a direct contribution.

It also begs the question how a CEO can say that his company's "support for the GLBT community is unwavering," when he himself gives money to a politician who would write discrimination into the U.S. Constitution if she could, and who believes that gays and lesbians are a threat to children.

I'd like to say I'm comforted by Target's words justifying their political contributions, but as this story continues to unfold and unfold and unfold, the worse it seems to get. And it certainly begs the question: can any company say that they are truly GLBT inclusive, when their money goes to fund some of the most anti-gay candidates in the country?

If you're still unsatisfied with Target's response, send the company a message now, asking them to financially separate themselves from politicians who want to keep LGBT people second class citizens.

Photo credit: bachmann.house.gov