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Dec. 20th, 2005 04:15 pmSo remember weeks ago when I posted about Target and their anti-woman policy when it comes to Plan B? Remember that I sent them a email letting them know that they wouldn't be getting another penny from this woman? Well guess what I just got...a response at long last. Here, let me share it with y'all:
Dear Target Guest ,
In our ongoing effort to provide great service to our guests, Target consistently ensures that prescriptions for the emergency contraceptive Plan B are filled. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 also requires us to accommodate our team members’ sincerely held religious beliefs.
Yes, they're still citing the Civil Rights Act of 1964, so basically they're saying their employees can decide which items for sale at their store fit in with their personal beliefs and which don't, right? Wrong.
In the rare event that a pharmacist’s beliefs conflict with filling a guest’s prescription for the emergency contraceptive Plan B, our policy requires our pharmacists to take responsibility for ensuring that the guest’s prescription is filled in a timely and respectful manner, either by another Target pharmacist or a different pharmacy.
- The emergency contraceptive Plan B is the only medication for which this policy applies.
But, but the Civil Rights Act of 1964 doesn't say that employees can only infringe on the rights of women who specifically want access to Plan B, so why single that one out? Jennifer, do you have a response to that?
- Under no circumstances can the pharmacist prevent the prescription from being filled, make discourteous or judgmental remarks, or discuss his or her religious beliefs with the guest.
Ok, so they can't call you a dirty slut or a hell-bound whore, that's nice I guess, but Jennifer, you're still not addressing the fundamental question.
Target abides by all state and local laws and, in the event that other laws conflict with our policy, we follow the law.
Or our somewhat nutty interpretation of that law...You know, I begin to suspect that Jennifer's never read the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
We're surprised and disappointed by Planned Parenthood’s negative campaign. We’ve been talking with Planned Parenthood to clarify our policy and reinforce our commitment to ensuring that our guests’ prescriptions for the emergency contraceptive Plan B are filled. Our policy is similar to that of many other retailers and follows the recommendations of the American Pharmacists Association. That's why it's unclear why Target is being singled out.
Um, Jennifer, I think if you take a look at their site you'll note that Target hasn't been singled out, indeed there are several lists that focus on companies who are allowing their fundie pharmacists to choose not to fill a legal prescription, and those who aren't. So it's not like they just hate you and want to pick on you, it's that you all made a fundamentally poor business decision and now you're going to have to deal with the consequences of that decision. Like when Ford decided to distance itself from its gay consumers 'cause the religious nuts threatened to boycott them. Remember how well that went?
We're committed to meeting the needs of our female guests and will continue to deliver upon that commitment.
Unless you want Plan B and our pharmacist decides he or she doesn't want you to have it, then tough titties.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Hanson
Target Executive Offices
[THREAD ID:1-17DKZL]
Well props to Jennifer for signing the email, though boo for not allowing us to respond to her response. I'd very much like her to explain this whole Civil Rights Act nonsense rather than just using it as a talking point. I'm honestly quite curious. I'd be happy to send her a link to the act and to the blogs that demonstrated what a bad idea it was to get political and side with the fundie fringe consumers over everyone else, but, well, I have nowhere to send it, alas.
Dear Target Guest ,
In our ongoing effort to provide great service to our guests, Target consistently ensures that prescriptions for the emergency contraceptive Plan B are filled. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 also requires us to accommodate our team members’ sincerely held religious beliefs.
Yes, they're still citing the Civil Rights Act of 1964, so basically they're saying their employees can decide which items for sale at their store fit in with their personal beliefs and which don't, right? Wrong.
In the rare event that a pharmacist’s beliefs conflict with filling a guest’s prescription for the emergency contraceptive Plan B, our policy requires our pharmacists to take responsibility for ensuring that the guest’s prescription is filled in a timely and respectful manner, either by another Target pharmacist or a different pharmacy.
- The emergency contraceptive Plan B is the only medication for which this policy applies.
But, but the Civil Rights Act of 1964 doesn't say that employees can only infringe on the rights of women who specifically want access to Plan B, so why single that one out? Jennifer, do you have a response to that?
- Under no circumstances can the pharmacist prevent the prescription from being filled, make discourteous or judgmental remarks, or discuss his or her religious beliefs with the guest.
Ok, so they can't call you a dirty slut or a hell-bound whore, that's nice I guess, but Jennifer, you're still not addressing the fundamental question.
Target abides by all state and local laws and, in the event that other laws conflict with our policy, we follow the law.
Or our somewhat nutty interpretation of that law...You know, I begin to suspect that Jennifer's never read the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
We're surprised and disappointed by Planned Parenthood’s negative campaign. We’ve been talking with Planned Parenthood to clarify our policy and reinforce our commitment to ensuring that our guests’ prescriptions for the emergency contraceptive Plan B are filled. Our policy is similar to that of many other retailers and follows the recommendations of the American Pharmacists Association. That's why it's unclear why Target is being singled out.
Um, Jennifer, I think if you take a look at their site you'll note that Target hasn't been singled out, indeed there are several lists that focus on companies who are allowing their fundie pharmacists to choose not to fill a legal prescription, and those who aren't. So it's not like they just hate you and want to pick on you, it's that you all made a fundamentally poor business decision and now you're going to have to deal with the consequences of that decision. Like when Ford decided to distance itself from its gay consumers 'cause the religious nuts threatened to boycott them. Remember how well that went?
We're committed to meeting the needs of our female guests and will continue to deliver upon that commitment.
Unless you want Plan B and our pharmacist decides he or she doesn't want you to have it, then tough titties.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Hanson
Target Executive Offices
[THREAD ID:1-17DKZL]
Well props to Jennifer for signing the email, though boo for not allowing us to respond to her response. I'd very much like her to explain this whole Civil Rights Act nonsense rather than just using it as a talking point. I'm honestly quite curious. I'd be happy to send her a link to the act and to the blogs that demonstrated what a bad idea it was to get political and side with the fundie fringe consumers over everyone else, but, well, I have nowhere to send it, alas.
