PetSmart launches Pride wear for cats and dogs

PetSmart is the latest company to face backlash for offering LGBTQ-themed merchandise before the start of Pride Month with their "You Are Loved" collection. A donation to the trans activist group GLSEN drew the most ire about the campaign. 

PetSmart announced on its website, "We proudly support the LGBTQ+ community with a $200,000 donation to GLSEN. Celebrate the spirit of Pride with your pet!" In a press release on May 2, they added, "This marks the fourth consecutive year PetSmart has donated to GLSEN, with contributions totaling $600,000 to date." 

"PetSmart is proud to elevate the voices and experiences of the LGBTQ+ community – from our associates and the pet parents we serve, to members of the community and allies,” senior vice president and chief merchandising officer at PetSmart Kristin Shane said. "Our You Are Loved collection was initiated and inspired by our associate resource group team members to help pet parents and their pets celebrate the spirit of Pride and share our values of inclusion and unconditional love.”

Customers promptly took to Twitter to voice their displeasure. 

One user noted that this is something all the pet stores are doing. "I have posted about Petsmart’s Pride collection, Pet Supply Plus sneaking into the Pride thing, & now much to my disappointment, PETCO has as well!" they said. "That leaves us with Tractor Supply- they will never go woke." 

Others alluded to the partnership with GLSEN in their post. Education Consultant Deb Fillman joked, "For your dog who identifies as a cat, I presume?" they added, "So PetSmart supports groomers. Good to know." 

"#PetSmart used to be my favorite store," another user wrote. "I donated with every purchase until yesterday. What does pride have to do with animals? They donate our money to the trans shit. #BoycottPetSmart" 

GLSEN is an organization that advocates for teachers to keep children's gender identity issues a secret from parents. In a document titled "Model Local Education Agency Policy on Transgender and Nonbinary Students" the organization said, "Transgender and nonbinary students have the right to discuss and express their gender identity openly and to decide when, with whom, and how much to share private information."

Target, Disney, and Kohl's have donated large amounts of money to the activist organization that claims that teachers have no authority to share a child's gender "transition" with "anyone." GLSEN was also given an award by the American Library Association for its LGBT books.