Target wants pro-gay marriage group in San Diego to stop canvassing its stores

San Diego -- Target Corp. is suing a pro-gay marriage group to get it to stop canvassing outside its San Diego County stores, alleging the group’s activists are driving away customers, the Associated Press said.



Rights advocates say the trial between Target and the group, Canvass For A Cause, that begins Friday could further strain the chain’s relations with the gay and lesbian community. Target came under heat from advocates in the last election season when it donated $150,000 to a MN Forward, a business group backing a Minnesota Republican candidate that was opposed to gay marriage.



Target insists it remains committed to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and its lawsuit has nothing to do with the political agenda of the organization.



"Our legal action was in no way related to the cause of the organization and was done so to be consistent with our long-standing policy of providing a distraction-free shopping experience by not permitting solicitors at our stores," the company said in a statement sent to The Associated Press.



Target notes it has taken similar action against a number of organizations representing a variety of causes. It alleges in the lawsuit that the San Diego group's activists harass customers by cornering them near its stores' front entrances and debating with them about their views on gay marriage, according to the report.



Target said at least eight of its stores in the area have reported receiving more than a dozen complaints daily since canvassers started working outside their stores in October 2010. Target says the activists have refused to leave when asked politely and shown the company's policy prohibiting "expressive activity" on its property.