In mid-April, Target announced that all Target stores across the nation will allow both consumers and employees to use the bathroom and changing rooms that correspond with their gender identity. Shortly after Target released this information to their website, the internet sort of broke.
Thousands posted their issues with Target anywhere and everywhere they could. Many left comments on an article posted by the Political Insider. To give you an idea of how furious many were, below are a couple comments posted after the article was released.
"Arson might sometimes be a moral duty."
"Let me just say that I had better not see urinals in any women’s bathrooms anywhere. There will be trouble like none a business has ever seen if that takes place."
"That’s a twisted idea of 'equality.' I’m a man, I don’t even have kids but I will never shop at Target again. Men of any type do not belong in the women’s private areas."
If fact, many were so "disgusted" with Target's decision that they called to boycotting all Target stores due to their new policy. Despite the overwhelming amount of individuals who signed the petition to boycott Target, CEO Brian Cornell has expressed no desire to go back on his new policy, according to The Washington Post.
Now that some time has passed since Target made its announcement, here are some world events that you might have missed while most of the world tried and failed to impact Target by boycotting. So while many are filing a petition or sharing their frustration with the internet, let's talk about some events you should actually be thoroughly concerned about.
May Third
A Navy SEAL was killed by a surprise ISIS attack, according to NPR. He was killed while informing Kurdish Peshmerga forces when they were attacked.
May 12th
The police officer that shot and killed Trayvon Martin, an unarmed black 17-year-old, in Florida has taken to the internet to sell the gun he used to kill Trayvon. The starting bid for the gun was at $5000. The advertisement of the gun was later taken down, however, the gun was eventually sold for $250,000, according to NPR and BBC. This action infuriated many.
May 16th
After the VA promised a solution to the unusually long amount of time it takes to see a VA doctor many veterans are having to wait longer than before. To put that into context, it was estimated to take 115 days to see a VA doctor. The "fix" that cost $10 billon. The "solution" has left many extremely upset, according to NPR.
May 20th
Oklahoma governor vetoed a bill that attempted to criminalize abortion in the state, according to Kfor. This brings an interesting questions to mind: If one state makes abortion illegal, what will happen to the other states that are anti-abortion? What would that mean for reproductive rights?
Since Target has posted to their website that they would allow transgender individuals to use whichever bathroom matched their gender identity, many other stories and examples have come up all around the world. This new policy has started a discussion about transgender rights that needs to take place. Target's new policy is just a starting point, which will hopefully create a ripple effect.
For those against transgender bathrooms, I would say it is unlikely that your angry rants on the internet are going to make a big impact. So instead of focusing on something that is going to happen whether you like it or not, why don't you focus on these other important stories that you missed because you were busy complaining about where others do their business. Why don't help the veterans that have to wait 115 days just to see the doctor? Or share your support for the Navy SEAL officer who was killed protecting our country? I'm sure there's something more productive you can do with your time than try a dictate who goes where.
