On “The Southern AF Podcast,” one former Proud Boy who went on to embrace white nationalism said he was originally drawn to the group because of its “pro-white sentiment.” “All his jokes, all his content when I first started listening to him,” he said of McInnes, “was all freakin’ alt-right stuff and racial issues and funny, comedic ways to like try to point out that white civilization has been superior.” Many Proud Boys like him have moved on to more extreme groups and ideologies. White nationalists and neo-Nazis themselves have cited McInnes as a gateway to the alt-right. If the Proud Boys “were pressed on the issue, I guarantee you that like 90% of them would tell you something along the lines of ‘Hitler was right. “Let’s not bullshit,” Brian Brathovd, aka Caerulus Rex, told his co-hosts on “The Daily Shoah,” an antisemitic podcast popular with the alt-right. Other hardcore members of the alt-right have argued that the “Western chauvinist” label is just a “PR cuck term” McInnes crafted to gain mainstream acceptance. Kessler was expelled from the group after the violence and near-universal condemnation of Charlottesville rallygoers. Former Proud Boys member Jason Kessler helped organize that event, which brought together a broad coalition of extremists including Neo-Nazis, antisemites and militias. Proud Boys have appeared alongside other hate groups at extremist gatherings such as the “ Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. They are known for anti-Muslim and misogynistic rhetoric. People have taken to social media to share this year's celebratory displays.The Proud Boys’ actions belie their disavowals of bigotry: Rank-and-file Proud Boys and leaders regularly spout white nationalist memes and maintain affiliations with known extremists. Their support even garnered a "boycott" in 2016 from people who didn't agree with Target's values - and there's no clap back quite as colorful as this year's Pride line. Target has also notably stood up for transgender rights, particularly in regards to discriminatory bathroom policies, and recently launched "Pillowfort," an aim toward more gender-neutral homeware for kids. "We’re making our message loud and clear: Target proudly stands with the LGBT community, both as a team member and team player through all that we do - from our volunteer efforts to our long-standing partnerships with groups like Family Equality Council and Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network, to the very products we carry in our stores and online," said Laysha Ward, Target's executive vice president and chief corporate social responsibility officer, in a press release in 2015. Since then, Target has been similarly progressive in its views as a company, launching #TakePride in 2015 in anticipation of Pride Month. The existence of their line of PRIDE products over the past five years isn't a surprising move for Target, a company that has been vocally supportive of the LGBTQ community since 2014, when they first publicized their support for gay marriage.
"I Heart My Moms" T-shirt, $10, Target "I Heart My Dads' T-shirt, $10, Target Photos on Twitter have been popping up of the festive displays in Target stores, and the products are available to buy online. Most adorably, they even feature a kid's line, with shirts that say "I Heart My Moms" and "I Heart My Dads".
The line includes a whole array of rainbow-clad items, from enamel pins to t-shirts to beach towels to a giant unicorn pool float. Last week, Target brought back one of its most timely and colorful product lines yet - specifically, the new line of PRIDE products at Targe t, in preparation for 2017's Pride Month in June.