As of April 19, 2016, Target has officially updated their restroom policy to stand for ‘inclusivity.’ This followed some recent debate about proposed laws in certain states. The bigger issue at hand, however, is LGBT rights overall. According to Target’s corporate site, they support the federal Equality Act which bans discrimination in areas of employment, housing, education, etc. Just a month before on March 24, North Carolina’s Governor signed a bill to ban transgender people from using bathrooms they identify with opposed to the bathroom of their sex. The bill passed, so transgender people must use the bathroom of the sex on their birth certificate. Many other states are debating putting forth similar legislation.
Status of "Bathroom Bill" Legislation | InsideGov
However, Target aims to combat this legislation and hopefully start a conversation about further legislation. Their corporate site 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’s move to be ‘inclusive’ is great for equal rights, right? Well, a nonprofit organization, American Family Association, has started a petition to boycott Target and their policy. American Family Association along with the nearly 750,000 signatures they’ve acquired (as of April 26) believe that there should be a unisex bathroom put in these Target stores instead of letting men and women—transgender or not—share the existing bathrooms. A spokesperson from Target said guests who feel uncomfortable by this policy may use the single stall/family restroom instead.
The #BoycottTarget movement was further ignited with the rediscovery of a story of a predator threatening children in a Target bathroom that occurred only a few weeks ago. Within the last year and a half alone there are numerous stories supporting the claims that women and children will be put at risk with such policies whether its at Target or other stores, restaurants, and public places. Stories like a man undressing in a women’s locker room, a man filming women from a bathroom stall, and other potential invasion of privacy cases.
Do you know what won’t be in the news, though? Stories of a transgender man simply doing his business in the bathroom and leaving. Or a story about a transgender woman using the fitting room she needs and going on her way. The stories of transgender people quietly doing what they need to do where they need to do it won’t make headlines because that’s not news.
Target has proudly stood with LGBT rights. Senior Director of Diversity and Inclusion at Target says:
“Target proudly stands with the LGBT community through all that we do. From our partnerships with organizations like the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), to our volunteer efforts, and even the products we sell. We want to be a champion for an inclusive society by using our influence and resources to support equality in the communities where our team members and guests live and work.”
While many believe women and children will be more vulnerable to people taking advantage of the policy, many other believe transgender people will just be able to more easily live their lives. In a 2011 national survey on transgender discrimination, 53% of respondents aid they have been verbally harassed or disrespected in a public place. Perhaps this law will help alleviate this.
Yes, there are cases of invasion of privacy where creeps take advantage of restroom policies in public places. Maybe instead of coincidentally calling on those cases, now would be a good time to just let Target make policies toward equality.
