After anti-LBGTQ bigots started boycotts of Bud Light, Kohl’s, and Target for daring to express their support for LGBTQ equality and Pride Month, many other corporations were worried they might be next.
But the largest retailer in the country, Walmart, is making it clear they won’t be intimidated by bigots and homophobes, letting the world know they will not be pulling any of their Pride Month merchandise for anyone and no matter the consequences.
Yes, Walmart.
Reuters reports that Walmart isn’t about to be intimidated and isn’t making any concessions to bullies.
Walmart on Wednesday said it has not made any changes to its LGBTQ-related merchandise tied to Pride Month, or to security measures in place at its stores, a week after rival Target pulled some LGBTQ-themed products following customer backlash.
“We haven’t changed anything in our assortment,” Latriece Watkins, Walmart’s chief merchandising officer, said.
And if you’re thinking that Walmart doesn’t have to change anything because they don’t offer much in the way of LGBTQ merchandise, consider that they carry “rainbow-adorned flags, clothing and accessories. Its ‘Pride & Joy’ collection includes a $7.98 set of enamel pins with messages such as ‘Be you. Be Proud.’ and ‘You are enough.'”
Watkins also noted that there has been no need to increase security at its stores, many of which are located in deeply red states.
“In this particular case, when we think about security … we have not done anything in particular differently related to security in our stores.”
Online reaction to Walmart’s hardline stance has been muted, and there have been almost no calls for a boycott of the retailer. Kind of makes you wonder why the haters have chosen to exclude Walmart.