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Pledge to Boycott Target over Transgender Bathroom Policy Reaches 1 Million Supporters

  • Veronica Neffinger

    Veronica Neffinger wrote her first poem at age seven and went on to study English in college, focusing on 18th century literature. When she is not listening to baseball games, enjoying the…

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  • Updated Apr 29, 2016

Over one million people have signed a pledge to boycott retail giant Target after the store announced last week that its customers will be allowed to use whichever bathroom they want to.

Target’s announcement came after North Carolina passed a law prohibiting transgender persons from using the restroom based on the gender with which they identify. Instead, the law, which is meant to protect women and children from sexual predators, stated that bathroom use must correspond to a person’s biological gender.

The law received significant backlash, including from Target. Now, however, Target itself is experiencing backlash for its bathroom use policy.

As ChristianHeadlines.com previously reported, Target’s official statement said: “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." 

According to The Christian Post, many conservative groups condemned Target’s new policy.

The American Family Association (AFA) stated, “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 dangerous new policy poses a danger to wives and daughters. We think many customers will agree. And we think the average Target customer is willing to pledge to boycott Target stores until it makes protecting women and children a priority,” the AFA continued.

The National Organization for Marriage is also supporting the pledge to boycott Target until it reverses its bathroom policy.

"Target has made billions of dollars selling merchandise to American families and yet for several years has been disrespecting traditional family values with an increasingly militant push in support of the agenda advanced by LGBT extremists," read an email the Organization sent to supporters.

Other organizations, however, although disagreeing with Target’s new policy, believe boycotting the store is not the best way forward.

Presbyterian Lay Committee President Carmen Fowler LaBerge stated, "Instead of boycotting, why not call on Target to insure the safety of women and girls while they are also providing reasonable accommodation to transgender individuals? Instead of widening the chasm why not find the common concern of privacy and safety which stands at the center of concern for both groups?"

Photo courtesy: Thinkstockphotos.com

Publication date: April 29, 2016