Target Signs Amicus Brief on Marriage Equality

I was screwing around on Facebook just wasting some time the other day when I scrolled past a post by the Los Angeles LGBT Center. The post was announcing and sharing that retailer Target was finally breaking their silence about support for the LGBT community and equal marriage rights, which was spring boarded by this image:


 

Really quick, I think it's important to be conscious of the blurred lines existent in LGBT supportive advertising. Companies have become more aware and privy to the extent in which the LGBT community and market can drive a company. It is a huge market. Makes you wonder how often companies make these moves for the sake of profit alone. Are they really taking any big risk in doing things like this? Do the people at the top really support the LGBT community or is it just a sales drive? 

Jodee Kozlak, Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, supported the announcement with a detailed blog on Target’s decision to sign an Amicus Brief on marriage equality.The blog is a summary of the reasoning behind their latest business development and very simply states that Target is trying to accomplish much more than racking in sales:

"You may have heard us talk about our long-standing commitment to inclusivity and diversity. Those aren’t just words. They are how we conduct ourselves – as a business and as a team. And as a part of that belief, we continually evaluate where we are as a company to ensure we are taking steps that balance doing what is right for our business, guests and for our team."

 Jodee Kozlak, Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer

So what in the hell is an Amicus Brief and why is it so important for the LGBT community, and even more our society?

 Amicus briefs are legal documents filed in appellate court cases by non-litigants with a strong interest in the subject matter. The briefs advise the court of relevant, additional information or arguments that the court might wish to consider.

What this ultimately states is that Target means business, and they are not just putting out a cute advertisement to try and shove their way into the hearts of a developing market place. The Target Wedding Gift Registry is a fighting case in which Target, being a nationally recognized company, is seeking legal action in conjunction with other large companies to abolish current laws in places like Wisconsin and Indiana that make it difficult to attract and retain talent. Laws that refuse to recognize marriages that were conducted legally in other states and that refuse to support equality in the work place. The amicus brief will be a defining statement and progression for the LGBT community in the world of business nationwide, and Target has announced that they are at the foreground of that battle. 

"At Target, we have long offered comprehensive, competitive benefits to our LGBT team members and their families, often above what is legally required. We continue to do so today because we believe doing so is right for our team and for our business. But current laws  make it difficult to attract and retain talent. These disparate laws also create confusing and complicated benefits challenges across multiple states.

We believe that everyone – all of our team members and our guests – deserve to be treated equally. And at Target we are proud to support the LGBT community."

For that, right on Target. I applaud you.

To read the full blog post click the following link: Target Signs Amicus Brief on Marriage Equality