Pride on display: Merchandise backlash concerns local LGBTQ community, some retailers

Jun. 22—"Love wins" and "Love is love" are among the messages adorning apparel displayed in recognition of Pride Month at Rue 21, a chain clothing store at Westmoreland Mall.

Not everyone is taking to heart such messages supporting the LGBTQIA community during June, as evidenced by recent backlash against some major retailers that are offering Pride-themed items for sale. Many items feature the colors of the rainbow flag that is a symbol of LGBTQIA pride.

"Fortunately, we haven't had anyone come in and say anything nasty about it," store manager Alex Painter said of the Rue 21 Pride inventory at the Hempfield mall, though he noted the items haven't been flying off the shelf. Comparing notes with managers of other stores in the chain, he concluded, "Our collection this year was targeted more for people that support this (LGBTQIA) community versus the actual community itself."

A recent visit to the Hempfield Rue 21 found Pride merchandise displayed well back from the front of the store. Painter said he believes that placement was made to help ensure the safety of the store's staff after what Target experienced.

Citing staff safety and well-being concerns, Target removed some Pride-related merchandise from its stores nationwide after aggressive backlash in May from some customers who confronted workers, tipped over displays and posted threatening videos on social media from inside stores, the Associated Press reported.

Target moved its Pride merchandise from the front of stores to the back in some Southern locations after confrontations and outcry from shoppers in those areas, according to the report.

At another clothing store at Westmoreland Mall, Hot Topic, a display of Pride-related items close to the entrance recently featured everything from socks to "rainbow slime."

"We have had a Pride display for as long as I can remember," said assistant manager Arden, who declined to provide a last name. "This has thankfully been a safe space."

A third mall store, locally-owned Rock Star, was sold out of its Pride-themed stickers and saw good demand for Vans brand Pride shirts.

"I've sold an entire stack of shirts," co-owner Stacie Zimmerman said. "I'd probably say a fourth of our customers are from the LGBTQ community."

It's the second year she's stocked special Vans merchandise for Pride Month, and she prepares by ordering the items eight months in advance.

"Last year, we didn't vocalize it as much," Zimmerman said. "I had people complaining, 'You do USA Pride (apparel), but you don't do the other (LGBTQIA) stuff.'"

Stephen Elcock of Scottdale, president of the three-year-old Scottdale Pride Community group, expressed concern about the rising backlash against Pride merchandise and how some businesses have reacted to it by pulling or repositioning products.

"When it comes to businesses giving into pressure by extremists, what does that mean for our community going forward?" he said.

The Pride Month backlash has paralleled the online experience of the Scottdale group, which supports and celebrates the LGBTQIA community.

Elcock said the group's posts about its activities have received much positive reaction and support, but, he said, negative comments have become more extreme and prominent, prompting the group to disable commenting.

"We got a lot of comments calling us pedophiles and satanic," he said. He suggested such aspersions could be counteracted "if people actually took the time to come out and be among our community and not just react to what people spread online.

"We're growing despite those comments. I feel confident we have a lot of supporters despite the more aggressive backlash."

The group's annual Pride Month festival began at a Scottdale coffee shop with about 10 vendors. Elcock is expecting at least double that number Sunday , when the event featuring music, art, crafts, food and kids' activities will be held at a larger venue: The Barn at historic West Overton Village in East Huntingdon.

"A lot of our vendors are in the LGBTQ community themselves, or they're staunch allies," Elcock said, noting many are area start-up ventures. "We highlight them as much as possible. They need to be supported."

Ernesto Camacho Jr. likewise has seen steady community support and growth in size of a Pride Month art exhibit he has presented at The Manos Gallery, which he operates in a former theater in Tarentum.

The third of his annual Pride shows, "I Am who I Am," is scheduled to run through Saturday.

"Every year, it gets bigger and bigger," Camacho said. "This year, we have 24 artists participating from the Pittsburgh area and beyond. We've sold 16 pieces already."

Camacho said most of the artists are members of the LGBTQIA community or allies.

The Tarentum community "has been so welcoming and accepting of what we do here," he said.

Comments on this year's Pride art show have been "100% positive," he said. "Nobody has been disrespectful."

Jean Slusser, president of the Greensburg chapter of PFLAG, formerly known as Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, said her group encourages support of "businesses that are LGBTQ-friendly 24/7 and 365 days a year" and posts information on such businesses on its Facebook page.

"We have to be really careful about stores that don't always continue throughout the year to be supportive of pro-LGBTQ legislation," Slusser said.

She suggested the conflict over Pride Month merchandise is "more amped-up" in large part because of legislation and political candidates in various states that have targeted issues important to the LGBTQ community and allies, such as gender-affirming services for transgender youth.

"People who support those candidates also are promoting people attacking stores and businesses that are trying to sell LGBTQ products," she said.

Locally, Slusser said, the Greensburg PFLAG chapter has sponsored informational booths at many public events and has appeared in the town's holiday parade.

"We've never had anybody be nasty to us," she said. "They may not want to hear our message, but they have at least treated us respectfully."

The PFLAG group also has partnered with the Westmoreland Museum of American Art for activities including an annual Pride Prom that was held June 17.

The museum "really celebrates diversity of all kinds," Slusser said. "Their exhibits and related programs prove it."

One of the few visible signs of Pride Month support during a recent walk around the heart of downtown Greensburg was a Pride flag displayed on the storefront of The White Rabbit Cafe and Patisserie on North Main Street.

"We have hung the Pride flag every June for the last five years to, honestly, no real reaction," said cafe owner Tommy Medley, whose declared aim is to make all patrons feel safe and respected. "Even this year, amid the increasing sociopolitical disunion surrounding the LGBTQ+ community, the in-person responses have either been non-existent or positive.

"I think there is a lot of hesitation in general around showing support for that community right now. But, to us, showing support for a marginalized group is completely apolitical and nonpartisa. It's basic humanity. A community can't flourish unless all its members are included, and displaying the Pride flag shows with whom we stand."

Jeff Himler is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Jeff by email at jhimler@triblive.com or via Twitter .