American retail chain Target restored the censored LGBTI terms on their website following backlash.
What happened?
People looking to buy a copy of the new book Trans Teen Survival Guide on the Target website this week were met with a censoring of LGBTI terms.
Customers who visited the pre-order page for the non-fiction book (released on 20 September) saw a series of asterisks in place of LGBTI terms like ‘transgender’ and ‘queer.’
‘Frank, friendly and funny, Trans Teen Survival Guide will leave ****** and nonbinary teens informed, empowered, and armed with all the tips, confidence and practical advice they need to navigate life as a trans teen,’ the book’s description at the time read.
Other books affected include Eric Rosswood and Kathleen Archambeau’s We Make It Better: The LGBTQ Community and their Positive Contributions to Society and Jack Halberstam’s Trans: A Quick and Quirky Account of Gender Variability.
Backlash
Author Cáel Keegan brought this matter to Target’s attention after noticing his book was censored. Various publishers, especially university presses, also brought this issue to Target’s attention. Still, Target did not adequately address their concerns immediately.
‘Transgender’ and ‘queer’ were not the only words blacklisted. In an attempt to monitor offensive language, Target also censored the word ‘Nazi.’
Target’s response
The website has since been updated to include the previously retracted words. A spokesperson for Target blamed the issue on the website’s algorithm. This algorithm is intended to censor ‘profanity and other select words… to ensure a positive shopping experience.’
‘This was an oversight on our part, and they should be included,’ Target spokesperson Jenna Reck said in a statement. ‘We’re working to update our site with the descriptions that were provided to Target by the book publishers.’
Anything else?
Target has previously been lauded for their pro-LGBTI stances. For instance, last year they introduced a gender-neutral line of children’s clothing. Back in 2016, they also announced their intent to install since-stall restrooms in their stores.
