As Pride month nears, Target is turning rainbow once again with a new clothing line dedicated to the LGBTQIA+ community.
The new collection features briefs, bras, and tops from queer brands TomboyX and Humankind and includes products that are worn to alter one’s physical appearance such as a boxer specially designed for wearing a prosthetic penis.
“Partnering with TomboyX meant being able to work directly with an expert within the inclusive intimates space to offer items that feature technical design elements intentionally made for the transgender and gender nonconforming community,” said Deborah Ryan, Target’s lead buyer for their Pride lineup, in a statement.
Republican media figures took to social media and condemned the new product line, calling it “abhorrent and insane.”
“Target is selling chest binders for gender dysphoric girls so they can crush their breasts to try and appear more like boys,” political commentator Matt Walsh posted on Twitter. “This is no different than Walgreens selling laxatives specifically for people with anorexia.”
“I can’t believe this is called progress,” reporter Jon Miller tweeted. “You know in China they used to bind women’s feet! History does not look kindly on that fad and it will be the same for this. Not healthy. At least [the] Chinese still [have] to keep a healthy mind. Very SICK!”
Conservative group Concerned Women for America also expressed their concern over the wild and potentially youth-damaging clothing line.
“This dangerous ideology is so deeply embedded in mainstream culture that young girls can now buy chest binders at their local @Target. Praying for our children.”
Target is also offering binders for women to compress their breasts and make their chests appear more masculine but health professionals warned that chest binding could present significant health complications.
According to WebMD, chest-binding restricts breathing, causes skin irritation, causes skin to “break” around the edges of the binder, can cause overheating, and can lead to bruised or fractured ribs.
The pro-transgender health site Clue also noted that binding can cause breathing problems, as well as “skin elasticity,” and could have a negative impact on “surgical outcomes” after undergoing a double-mastectomy.
