American retailer Target is removing some items from its LGBTQ Pride Collection to “protect employees” after what it described as “volatile circumstances” in some of its 2,000 shops.
In some states, Target said it had moved Pride month merchandise – including mugs, books and ‘love is love’ T-shirts – to the back of the store after an increase in incidents of the items being thrown on the floor.
Target said in a statement: “Since introducing this year’s collection, we’ve experienced threats impacting our team members’ sense of safety and well-being while at work.
“Given these volatile circumstances, we are making adjustments to our plans, including removing items that have been at the centre of the most significant confrontational behaviour.”
The collection contains more than 2,000 products.