392,000 Signers Pledge to Boycott Retailer Target Over Transgender Bathroom Decision
More than 392,000 people have signed an online pledge to boycott Target after the retail giant said that transgender employees and customers could use the bathroom that corresponds with their gender identity, irrespective of their biological sex.
"This means a man can simply say he 'feels like a woman today' and enter the women's restroom...even if young girls or women are already in there," says American Family Association's online #BoycottTarget pledge, which was launched after Target announced Tuesday, "We welcome transgender team members and guests to use the restroom or fitting room facility that corresponds with their gender identity."
"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?" the pledge asks.
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"Corporate America must stop bullying people who disagree with the radical left agenda to remake society into their progressive image," says AFA President Tim Wildmon in a statement.
"We want to make it very clear that AFA does not believe the transgender community poses this danger to the wider public," Wildmon clarifies. "Rather, this misguided and reckless policy provides a possible gateway for predators who are out there."
The pledge proposes that a solution to the issue of transgendered customers could be a unisex bathroom. "Target should keep separate facilities for men and women, but for the trans community and for those who simply like using the bathroom alone, a single occupancy unisex option should be provided."
Target sought to explain its decision, saying, "We believe that everyone — every team member, every guest, and every community — deserves to be protected from discrimination, and treated equally. Consistent with this belief, Target supports the federal Equality Act, which provides protections to LGBT individuals, and opposes action that enables discrimination."
AFA encourages signers to contact Target and let them know they have signed the boycott pledge.
Molly Snyder, a Target spokeswoman, earlier told the Star Tribune that the company restated its position due to questions it has received from both customers and employees amid the national debate on bathroom laws. Executives she said, sent an e-mail to store leaders earlier this week to convey the message.
Recently evangelist Franklin Graham slammed rock singer Bruce Springsteen's decision to cancel a planned concert in North Carolina over a state law that bars transgender people from using women's bathrooms and locker rooms.
"Bruce Springsteen, a long-time gay rights activist, has cancelled his North Carolina concert. He says the N.C. law #HB2 to prevent men from being able to use women's restrooms and locker rooms is going 'backwards instead of forwards.' Well, to be honest, we need to go back! Back to God. Back to respecting and honoring His commands. Back to common sense," Graham wrote on his Facebook page.
