Gaga nixxes deal with Target over recent donations to anti-gay political groups

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First:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/0..._n_833209.html

"Born This Way" is Lady Gaga's minority and gay rights anthem, and as such, she's decided not to partner with a chain retailer known for its donations to anti-gay rights political candidates.

Metro Weekly reports, citing sources close to the deal, that Lady Gaga has nixed her deal for an exclusive special edition of her upcoming album; The Advocate then reported that a source close to Gaga said that the company's continued political activity -- specifically the main stumbling block.

"She and Target didn't see eye to eye on Target's policy of political donations and how they affect the LGBT community," the source told the magazine's website.

In July, it was revealed that Target's Political Action Committee had made donations to MN Forward, a PAC that supportered Minnesota State Rep. Tom Emmer's campaign for governor. Emmer is a hardline conservative who holds staunch anti-gay rights stances, and has been linked to a ministry that advocates killing gay people.

Following the revelation, Target CEO Gregg Steinhafel apologized and promised Target would more closely oversee its donations, but in December it was discovered that the company's PAC had donated over $30,000 to anti-gay rights politicians, 3/4 of its political spending in 2010. That included donations to MN Reps. Erik Paulsen and John Kline, both of whom are vehemently anti-gay rights.

When Gaga first struck the deal with the retailer in February, she noted the difficulty she had with Target's history, and said that it had become part of their negotiations.

"That discussion was one of the most intense conversations I've ever had in a business meeting," the singer told Billboard.com. "Part of my deal with Target is that they have to start affiliating themselves with LGBT charity groups and begin to reform and make amends for the mistakes they've made in the past...our relationship is hinged upon their reform in the company to support the gay community and to redeem the mistakes they've made supporting those groups."

She's been an outspoken advocate of gay rights, making speeches to advocate the repeal of "Don't Ask Don't Tell" and suggesting that homophobic soldiers be discharged.


and then -


http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/marc...appointed.html


Target hasn't exactly told Lady Gaga to stick her disco stick where the sun don't shine, but the retail giant is finally commenting on the music superstar's decision to walk away from an exclusive partnership she recently launched with the company.

It was revealed yesterday that Gaga ended a deal with Target to sell her new album Born This Way because she's reportedly not pleased with how they make their political contributions and how such decisions impact the gay community.

A rep for Gaga confirmed they're no longer in business, calling the decision "mutual."

However…

Target isn't happy with how things have played out.

"We were very surprised and disappointed by the statements made by Lady Gaga's organization related to her partnership with Target," the company said in statement released this afternoon. "Target remains committed to the LGBT community as demonstrated by our contributions to various LGBT organizations, our recently established Policy Committee to review our political giving and our respectful, inclusive workplace environment."

Target came under fire last year for contributing to a political action committee that supported Tom Emmer, an antigay politician who ran for governor of Minnesota.

Gaga had said she signed the deal with Target after she was assured by company executives that it would change its policies on political donations and further its relationships with gay charities.

While a Target spokesperson outlined several new gay initiatives in an interview with Billboard magazine last month, it apparently wasn't enough for Gaga.

A rep for Gaga did not immediately comment for this story.