Retail giant Target has lost its
lawsuit against a San Diego-based group that supports gay marriage,
among other issues, gay
website San
Diego Gay Lesbian News
reported.
The retailer took Canvass For A Cause
(CFAC) to court in an effort go get the group to stop talking to its
customers outside its San Diego County stores. Target said the
group's activities were disruptive and driving away customers.
On Thursday, Superior Court Judge
Jeffrey B. Barton denied Target's request.
Target told the AP
that its “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.”
Canvass For A Cause
director Tres Watson said the company is biased against his group
because it promotes gay marriage.
“It's very David
vs. Goliath,” he said. “We understand they're the Goliath in the
room. They've got all [the] money in the world to get us to stop
talking about gay marriage.”
In its suit, Target
alleged that the group, formed in 2009, is too aggressive, often
cornering customers to debate their views on gay marriage, claims the
group has denied.
Canvass For A Cause
argues that shopping centers have become today's public squares and
points to recent court rulings that support its claim.
“This was not
just a victory for the LGBT community,” Watson told SDGLN.com, “but
a victory for everybody who supports the fundamental American values
to free speech.”
Watson added that
he expects the ruling to be appealed.