"Born This Way" is Lady Gaga's minority and gay rights anthem, and as such, she's decided not to partner with a chain retailer known for its donations to anti-gay rights political candidates.
Metro Weekly reports, citing sources close to the deal, that Lady Gaga has nixed her deal for an exclusive special edition of her upcoming album; The Advocate then reported that a source close to Gaga said that the company's continued political activity -- specifically the main stumbling block.
"She and Target didn't see eye to eye on Target's policy of political donations and how they affect the LGBT community," the source told the magazine's website.
In July, it was revealed that Target's Political Action Committee had made donations to MN Forward, a PAC that supportered Minnesota State Rep. Tom Emmer's campaign for governor. Emmer is a hardline conservative who holds staunch anti-gay rights stances, and has been linked to a ministry that advocates killing gay people.
Following the revelation, Target CEO Gregg Steinhafel apologized and promised Target would more closely oversee its donations, but in December it was discovered that the company's PAC had donated over $30,000 to anti-gay rights politicians, 3/4 of its political spending in 2010. That included donations to MN Reps. Erik Paulsen and John Kline, both of whom are vehemently anti-gay rights.
When Gaga first struck the deal with the retailer in February, she noted the difficulty she had with Target's history, and said that it had become part of their negotiations.
"That discussion was one of the most intense conversations I've ever had in a business meeting," the singer told Billboard.com. "Part of my deal with Target is that they have to start affiliating themselves with LGBT charity groups and begin to reform and make amends for the mistakes they've made in the past...our relationship is hinged upon their reform in the company to support the gay community and to redeem the mistakes they've made supporting those groups."
She's been an outspoken advocate of gay rights, making speeches to advocate the repeal of "Don't Ask Don't Tell" and suggesting that homophobic soldiers be discharged.