On April 19, 2016, Target apparently turned innocent people into sexual predators by changing their bathroom policy. Of course Target did not do this, rather the internet trolls speaking out against this new policy. By the comments and posts I have read, it is clear that there is a misinterpretation of the statement given by Target. This new policy states, " In our stores, we demonstrate our commitment to an inclusive experience in many ways. Most relevant for the conversations currently underway, we welcome transgender team members and guests to use the restroom or fitting room facility that corresponds with their gender identity."

Target issued this new policy months after it signed the Equality Act. The purpose of this act is to "protect against discrimination based on an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity in matters of employment, housing, access to public places, federal funding, credit, education and jury service. In addition, it would prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex in federal funding and access to public places." This sounds fantastic, right? A step in the right direction to bring humanity together, thus creating peace among the World. This does not state that you must believe in how another person lives their life, just basically states that everyone should treat one another as a fellow, breathing human being. Unfortunately for Target, the LGBTQ community, and the Human race in general, this act of inclusiveness has backfired.

The misinterpretation comes in the used term; gender identity. Tim Wildmon, President of the AFA, spear-headed the petition to boycott Target due to obvious misinterpretation of a term he clearly decided to forego educating himself about. In his creation of the petition, Wildmon states, " Target's policy is exactly how sexual predators get access to their victims. And with Target publicly boasting that men can enter women's bathrooms, where do you think predators are going to go? Clearly, Target's new policy poses a danger to wives and daughters." This tactic being used, which many are following, is called fearmongering. This is the exact same tactic used by those in political power to create fear and stigma regarding humans from other countries, or those who practice different cultural beliefs. Humans are being pinned against each other. It is time to stop and ask yourselves the purpose of all of this hate being created by the very people we claim to not trust.

And more importantly, when did we become so concerned with accusing people of being sexual predators and allowing this fear to hinder us from going into a public place? There are registered sex offenders living within blocks from us and our children's schools all over the country. Does this prevent you from sending your child to school or allowing them to play outside? Perhaps this is all a result of rape culture, which is an assumption that sexual violence is an inevitable fact of life. We cannot prevent bad things from happening, things done by actual criminals, but this is the reason for police and the judicial system. You call upon them when they are needed, not by assuming the worst is going to happen by an innocent bystander. If this were the case, we would all live as hermits.

Gender identity is often incorrectly confused with sexual preference, or physical anatomy. From the moment we are born, there are social expectations set for us based on whether we have male or female anatomy. Because of the social standards and traditions that are placed within us, it is understandable how something that is not widely understood can be misconstrued. However, this does not make it right, in any way shape or form, to play judge jury and executioner. How you live and what you believe does not make your way of life any more meaningful than the person right next to you. Humans tend to be ethnocentric in general, unable to see beyond their own cultural values and ways of life. Because of this characteristic, there is always going to be somebody who has something to say about me, you, or anyone else who does not align with our core values. Ethnocentrism aside, there is an unspoken moral code, that we as humans tend to forget: Culture is no excuse to torture or dehumanize individuals or groups of people. Letting emotions take over logical thought can become damaging to ourselves and those who may be affected by our words and actions.

There are so many comments about men deciding to dub themselves trans just to be a pervert and enter the woman's bathroom. First of all, this is a very one sided argument, because women can be perverts as well. Secondly, with all of the hate and discrimination geared towards the trans population, do you really believe they would beg for even more scrutiny by entering a bathroom that they do not outwardly identify with? Before Target released this new policy, and you saw a woman walk into the men's bathroom, would your head not turn? I guarantee you it would because your very first thought would be, 'why is that woman going in the men's bathroom?' Of course you will deny this now, but hindsight is 50/50 and this is a predictable situation.

Stop confusing this bathroom policy with co-ed. It is not a co-ed situation. Women are still going to use the women's restroom, and men are still going to use the men's restroom. There is literally nothing changing within Target, they are only being scrutinized for accepting people as they are, as humans. Just like the diminishing of the segregation of water fountains for black and whites, this is another step to bring the same rights all humans are deserving of having. Trans, black, white, Christian, Muslim (just to name a few)…are all minority groups comprised of people with different ways of life. No one is the same, and that is something that needs to be more widely accepted. I do not believe the trans community is pushing for people to understand them, they want equal rights as human beings. The reason so much emphasis is put on these things is because of the heinous acts that precede such policy changes.

I can guarantee you, you have been going to the bathroom in stores, at work, in the amusements parks, even in church, with a person who identifies with a gender opposite of what was put on their birth certificates. This is not going to change, and there is nothing that can be done about it. So stop degrading and dehumanizing - we all have blood running through our veins and require the same oxygen to survive. Protect your children how you see fit, as they are yours, but try to keep the hate in your own hearts. Oh, and if you need to use the restroom, just wait until you are 'safe' in your own homes!