A supermarket faces criticism for selling Pride-themed merchandise for babies - leaving many people baffled.
Department store Kohl's found itself at the centre of a conservative storm after it launched a sweet range of LGBTQIA+ merchandise, ahead of Pride month celebrations, as some people threatened a boycott.
Outraged conservatives took to social media platforms, igniting a storm of backlash against the retailer over a Pride onesie designed for 3-month-old infants.
Online commentator, @ALX shared a screenshot of the onesie on Twitter, accompanied by a sarcastic remark: "In case you need clothes for your Gay or Trans 3-month-old, Kohl's has you covered."
This post, along with others from conservative commentator Benny Johnson, who questioned why Kohl's was selling "Pride Merch" for babies, left people baffled at the outrage.
Gay couple's rainbow doormat vandalised before neighbours show amazing supportA widely circulated video, initially removed for hate speech but later reposted, highlighted the additional Pride-themed clothing options for children.
Among them was a sweet shirt featuring Minnie Mouse ears superimposed on a rainbow-coloured flag, adorned with the words: "Belong, believe, be proud."
These products further fuelled the anger of those demanding a boycott, drawing comparisons to the backlash faced by retail giant Target, which saw a staggering $10 billion decrease in market valuation due to its LGBTQ collection for kids.
The initial uproar against Bud Light was triggered by their partnership with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney.
The onesie, featuring cartoon characters holding a rainbow-coloured flag, is currently being sold at a discounted price of $9.99.
Kohl's description of the item reads, "Celebrate the joy that comes from living authentically and unapologetically during Pride month and all year long with this Baby Sonoma Community® Pride Bodysuit Set."
Some customers left one-star reviews and expressed further threats of boycotting the company.
But one individual pointed out that most major retailers celebrate Pride month and accused the critics of being oblivious to this fact.
Others called for solidarity among shoppers, urging Kohl's to "fight back" against the mounting backlash.
Highlighting the broad participation of various companies in Pride month, one Twitter user asked, "Kohl's, Burlington, JCP, Macy's, Dillard's, Nordstrom, and the GAP companies will all celebrate Pride month with special clothing lines or are inclusive. Add Pepsi, Coca-Cola, 7-Up, Dr. Pepper, Absolut, Smirnoff . . . y'all gonna boycott EVERYONE?"
LGBTQ+ Pride Month 2023: Test your knowledge with our brain-teasing quizAnother joked: "Now they're going after Kohl's for selling Pride merch. Look forward to the far right being reduced to shopping at Big Bart's No-Rainbows Anti-Woke Mart and Gun Shop."
A third highlighted: "Trump sold Pride merch," while another said: "Wait until they start shooting their assault weapons into the air to disperse real rainbows after storms."