May 9 (Reuters) - Target ( TGT ) is planning to cut

LGBTQ-themed merchandise from some of its stores during Pride

Month this June, Bloomberg News reported on Thursday, after a

backlash hit sales of the retailer last year.

Target ( TGT ) plans to offer the full assortment of the merchandise

online but is examining store-level data to decide which

physical locations will carry the products, the report said,

citing people familiar with the matter.

Target ( TGT ) is likely to stock the products in about half of its

nearly 2,000 stores in the U.S., the report said.

The move comes after

Target ( TGT )

was forced to remove some items, including certain

transgender swimsuits, from its LGBTQ+ themed collection last

year after facing customer backlash and confrontations between

customers and employees in some stores. Target ( TGT ) blamed the

backlash in part for a drop in its sales in its second quarter

last year.

On Thursday, a Target ( TGT ) spokesperson said it was committed

to supporting the LGBTQIA+ community during Pride Month, which

is celebrated in June, and year-round.

The Minneapolis-based retailer will maintain a presence

at local Pride events in Minneapolis and around the country, and

would offer a collection of products for Pride month "curated

based on guest insights and consumer research," in select stores

and online, the spokesperson added.