Florida’s State Board of Administration, chaired by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, filed a lawsuit against Target on Thursday, alleging the company defrauded investors about the financial risks of its LGBTQ Pride merchandise line. The suit claims that Target’s Pride line was “exceptionally offensive” and “extreme,” citing specific items like a swimsuit for transgender women.
The lawsuit makes similar claims to another suit filed by Florida’s City of Riviera Beach Police Pension Fund, accusing Target of defrauding investors about its Pride merchandise. This is the latest instance of a Republican-led state taking legal action over a company’s diversity and inclusion efforts.
Target had previously supported LGBTQ+ rights and sold merchandise from diverse suppliers, but has since walked back its DEI goals, including efforts to hire and promote people of color and women. Other companies have also scaled back their diversity initiatives in light of Trump’s election victory and his executive orders attacking DEI.
The lawsuit is part of a growing trend of Republican-led states targeting companies over their diversity and inclusion efforts. Florida joins Missouri, which sued Starbucks last week, and a coalition of 19 Republican-led states that demanded Costco roll back its DEI policies within 30 days.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/conormurray/2025/02/20/florida-sues-target-over-pride-merchandise-as-more-states-take-legal-action-against-dei