Following a week of criticism for their initially-lukewarm response to Target Corporation’s support of the Tom Emmer campaign for governor, the Human Rights Campaign ran a full-page ad in Sunday’s Star-Tribune, calling on Target to donate $150,000 – the amount they gave to a political action committee that supports GOP lawmaker Tom Emmer – to a group that would “support candidates who will put all Minnesota families first and fulfill the promises of our highest ideals.”

The ad, plus growing public outrage, seems to have gotten a bit of attention at Target headquarters. In a statement issued yesterday, Target apologized for the donation to the MN Forward PAC, and said they are working on a solution to restoring the trust of the LGBTQA community.

This follows in the footsteps of OutFront Minnesota, who has been calling on Target to make similar compensation for their donation to the MN Forward PAC since July 22. According to HRC spokesman Paul Guequierre, the HRC had merely “amplified [its] advocacy,” and was not changing its position after a week of public criticism of their initial, less agressive position.

On Monday, Target Corporation issued a short response to the HRC’s ad:

“Target understands the concerns of the HRC. We have had multiple conversations with the HRC during the past few weeks and will continue our constructive dialogue. Target respects the work of the HRC and appreciates our partnership with them over the years. We hope to continue to work with the HRC in a spirit of mutual cooperation.

At Target, we listen to our guests, our team members and our communities – and we have heard them on this issue. We are committed to doing better and regret that we have let down our team members and guests. We are evaluating ways to make sure they know the high value we place on our relationships with them.”

This concurs with conversations TheColu.mn has had with OutFront staff members, who say they have been working with Target management and employees to craft a compromise on the issue. The only question remaining: How will Target implement this apology?