Report: Target trying to make political amends

Minneapolis A report published Tuesday by the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal said that Target Corp. is working to calm down gay rights activists incensed over a $150,000 political donation to a group supporting a conservative Republican gubernatorial candidate in Minnesota.

Target is said to be in negotiations with the Human Rights Campaign, according to Politico.com, which cited sources close to the talks. The company is being urged to donate $150,000 to pro-gay-rights candidates and groups in Minnesota, the political news website reported.

Last Thursday, Target CEO Gregg Steinhafel apologized to the retailer’s employees for the donation to MN Forward, a new business-advocacy group that is supporting state Rep. Tom Emmer, a GOP gubernatorial candidate who opposes gay marriage.

But the move didn’t appease the outrage of advocacy groups such as MoveOn.org and the Human Rights Campaign, which held a protest outside Target headquarters the next day.