As some of you may know, Harlem has a Target store in East Harlem, what some of you may not know is that Target said on Tuesday, April 20th, 2016, is that transgender employees and customers can now use the bathroom that corresponds with their gender identity, becoming the first big retailer to weigh in on an issue at the center of a heated national debate.
This announcement comes amid the firestorm surrounding North Carolina’s controversial bathroom law, which requires people to use bathrooms and locker rooms in public facilities that correspond with their gender at birth.
In a blog post, Target said, “We welcome transgender team members and guests to use the restroom or fitting room facility that corresponds with their gender identity.”
In the blog post, the company also reaffirmed its support of the federal Equality Act, which provides protections to LGBT individuals.
Target’s full blog post reads:
Recent debate around proposed laws in several states has reignited a national conversation around inclusivity. So earlier this week, we reiterated with our team members where Target stands and how our beliefs are brought to life in how we serve our guests.
Inclusivity is a core belief at Target. It’s something we celebrate. We stand for equality and equity, and strive to make our guests and team members feel accepted, respected and welcomed in our stores and workplaces every day.
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.
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.
We regularly assess issues and consider many factors such as impact to our business, guests and team members. Given the specific questions these legislative proposals raised about how we manage our fitting rooms and restrooms, we felt it was important to state our position.
Everyone deserves to feel like they belong. And you’ll always be accepted, respected and welcomed at Target.
Business Insider reports that on Friday, April 22nd, 2016 more than 182,000 people have signed a pledge to boycott Target after the retailer said it would welcome transgender customers to use any bathroom or fitting room that matches their gender identity.
The boycott pledge was started by the conservative American Family Association (AFA).
Target’s policy is exactly how sexual predators get access to their victims,” AFA President Tim Wildmon said in an open letter. “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.
Wildmon urged people to sign the boycott pledge, claiming the policy “poses a danger to wives and daughters.” He also urged people to complain about the policy on Target’s Facebook page.
He suggested that Target should install separate unisex bathrooms instead of giving all genders access to facilities designated for women or men.
What do you think? Let us know in the comments!
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