Twin Cities Pride Executive Director Dot Betsler tells TheColu.mn that her organization is still trying to decide how to respond to Target Corporation’s donation of $100,000 in cash and $50,000 worth of goods and services to MN Forward, a Republican pressure group founded by former Pawlenty deputy chief of staff Brian McClung that’s helping fund ads supporting GOP gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer. According to Minnesota Public Radio, Target says they gave to Emmer because of his pro-business stances:
Target spokeswoman Lena Michaud says Target does not give funds based on party, but on which candidates and causes “directly effect the company’s retail agenda.”
Pro-business Emmer may be, but the state legislator has also been linked to a prominent local anti-gay group, and has not exactly been at the forefront of the fight for LGBTQ equality in the Minnesota legislature, last May voting against a popular anti-bullying bill that was ultimately vetoed by Governo Tim Pawlenty.
Betsler declined to comment on what options were on the table in dealing with Target, who has been a significant sponsor of many LGBT community events, and who occupied a prime place as a “Silver Sponsor” of this year’s Twin Cities Pride festival. A decision, she said, would rest on “internal conversations,” and would be due by the end of the week.
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