Target Reportedly Opts for “USA” Collection Instead of “Pride” Merchandise in Stores

LGBT, ,

Newsweek reports retail giant Target is going viral over its “USA” merchandise collection this month.

In recent years, June has been marked as LGBT Pride Month, and corporations like Target have worked hard to sell “pride” themed merchandise every June. But in 2023, Target experienced significant backlash and declining sales over its transgender products. Many people were particularly bothered that Target marketed LGBT-themed baby products and kids clothing in stores. That backlash prompted Target to hold “emergency” meetings to address the situation and ultimately led Target to quietly reduce its “pride”-themed products last year.

This year, Target is still selling LGBT merchandise on its website, but social media users are posting photos of patriotic “USA” products where LGBT “pride” displays once stood in stores.

Earlier this year, Target also announced it would end its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion goals and no longer participate in the Human Rights Campaign’s pro-LGBT “Corporate Equality Index.”

We have written before about how backlash and boycotts have prompted companies like Target, Walmart, Toyota, John Deere, Lowe’s, Tractor Supply, Harley-Davidson, and others to change course when it comes to pro-LGBT ideology.

Americans are tired of pro-LGBT pandering from corporations. It’s deeply troubling when companies use their wealth and influence to promote radical, pro-LGBT ideas. But it’s also encouraging when companies like Target reverse course. With that in mind, we believe Target is making the right decision by scaling back its “pride” merchandise, and we hope the company eventually eliminates the merchandise altogether.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

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Arkansas Awards $1.9M+ to Pregnancy Help Organizations for 2025 Budget Cycle

Abortion, , ,

The State of Arkansas has awarded more than $1.9 million in publicly funded grants to pro-life pregnancy help organizations this budget cycle, according to the state’s official transparency website.

The grant funding is part of a $2 million appropriation the Arkansas Legislature approved in 2024. The grants promote maternal wellness and help pregnancy resource centers, maternity homes, adoption agencies, and other organizations that provide material support to women with unplanned pregnancies.

Arkansas does not give grant funding to abortionists or their affiliates.

Since 2022 Family Council has worked with the Arkansas Legislature and the governor to secure funding every year for pregnancy resource centers. These state-funded grants have helped support dozens of charities that assist women and children in Arkansas.

Arkansas’ fiscal year ends on June 30. To date, 35 organizations have received funding this budget cycle. That’s something to celebrate!

Pregnancy resource centers and similar organizations give women real options besides abortion. That’s why a growing number of states provide these organizations with public funding.

It’s important to pass laws to prohibit abortion, but we also need to assist women with unplanned pregnancies.

This year Family Council was pleased to work with lawmakers to secure another $2 million in grant money for pregnancy help organizations in the state’s upcoming 2025-2026 budget cycle.

Below is a list of pregnancy help organizations and the amount of grant funding each has received from the State of Arkansas so far this fiscal year.

OrganizationDoing Business AsGrant Funding
INFORMED CHOICES WOMENS CENTER OF THE OZ$128,474.43
HEART TO HEART PREGNANCY SUPPORT CENTER$81,321.88
OPEN ARMS PREGNANCY CENTER INC$81,321.00
ARKANSAS BAPTIST CHILDRENS HOMES AND FAMLIVING WELL COUNSELING$81,301.88
CRISIS PREGNANCY CENTER OF CENTRAL ARKANCARING HEARTS PREGNANCY CENTER$81,209.26
PATHWAY RESOURCE CENTER$78,981.88
LIFES CHOICE PREGNANCY CARE CENTER$75,856.88
CRITTENDEN COUNTY CARES$50,004.00
HOPEPLACE MONTICELLO$50,000.00
HOPEPLACE – FORDYCE$50,000.00
PREGNANCY HELP CENTERPREGNANCY HELP CLINIC$50,000.00
CHANGEPOINT PREGNANCY CARE AND PARENTING$50,000.00
ST FRANCIS HOUSE NWA INCCOMMUNITY CLINIC$50,000.00
OPTIONS A PREGNANCY RESOURCE CENTER INCOPTIONS$50,000.00
NEW BEGINNINGS PREGNANCY HELP CENTER OF$50,000.00
PLUM FOUNDATIONPEACE LOVE UNDERSTANDING MERCY$50,000.00
NEW BEGINNINGS PREGNANCY CENTER$50,000.00
COMPASSION MINISTRIES LTD$50,000.00
ST BERNARDS DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION$50,000.00
SOUTH ARKANSAS CARING PREGNANCY CENTERHANNAH PREGNANCY RESOURCE CENTER$50,000.00
ST JOSEPHS HELPERS OF PULASKI COUNTYARKANSAS PREGNANCY RESOURCE CENTER$50,000.00
ABUNDANT LIFE PREGNANCY RESOURCE CENTER$49,876.00
FORT SMITH CHRISTIAN FAMILY SERVICES INC1ST CHOICE PREGNANCY MEDICAL CENTER$49,850.00
HOPE OF THE DELTA CENTER$49,349.04
DISCERNMENT LLC$49,185.00
CRADLE THE MATERNITY SUPPORT CENTER OF CKATHLEEN BLOSSOM$49,000.00
HOPEPLACE NEWPORT$49,000.00
ACTS OF HOPE INCACTS OF HOPE, PREGNANCY RESOURCE CENTER$48,776.00
CHOICES PREGNANCY RESOURCE CLINIC INC$45,048.00
ASSEMBLIES OF GOD FAMILY SERVICESCOMPACT FAMILY SERVICES$44,273.00
PREGNANCY RESOURCE CENTER FOR SOUTHWEST$43,700.00
BAPTIST HEALTH FOUNDATION$43,500.00
HOPES FIRST CHOICE PREGNANCY RESOURCE CE$26,415.00
CENTRAL BAPTIST ASSOCIATIONBREATH OF LIFE PREGNANCY RESOURCE CENTER$26,249.00
ARKANSAS PREGNANCY NETWORK$20,423.82
Total$1,903,116.07

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A.G.’s Lawsuit Against TikTok Can Continue: Arkansas Supreme Court

Social Media,

Last week the Arkansas Supreme Court ruled that Attorney General Tim Griffin’s lawsuit against social media giant TikTok can move forward.

In March of 2023 the Arkansas Attorney General’s office filed a lawsuit against Chinese-based company ByteDance — the corporation that owns TikTok — in Cleburne County Circuit Court.

With upwards of a billion users worldwide — including somewhere between 135 and 170 million in the U.S. — TikTok is among the most popular social media outlets on earth.

But TikTok isn’t just a phone app. It’s a major corporation, and its Chinese-based parent company, ByteDance, has been valued at $300 billion.

However, TikTok has found itself embroiled in controversy for struggling to protect private user data from entities in China — including the Chinese Communist Party.

The platform also has been accused of serving users a steady “diet of darkness” and violating laws intended to protect children online.

Attorney General Griffin’s lawsuit alleges TikTok violated Arkansas’ Deceptive Trade Practices Act by falsely claiming that graphic and mature content on its platform is appropriate for teens. The lawsuit also calls the TikTok app “a Chinese ‘Trojan Horse’ unleashed on unsuspecting American consumers.”

Attorneys for TikTok have worked relentlessly to have the lawsuit dismissed, but last Thursday the Arkansas Supreme Court declined to put the case on hold — meaning the A.G.’s office is free to pursue it.

As we keep saying, social media platforms are not just websites or phone apps. These are major corporations owned and operated by investors and other interests. If the Chinese Communist Party can influence TikTok, the CCP may be able to manipulate content, influence users, and harvest data on one of the world’s largest social media platforms. That’s a serious concern, and we appreciate Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin taking a firm stand in court.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

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