Target’s New Transgender Policy

Targets New Transgender Policy

Selena Spiegel (12th), Reporter
May 10, 2016

On April 19, Target revealed its stand on the issue pressing the nation–transgender rights. The company confirmed their standing with the Equality Act, a 2015 act banning sexual or gender oriented discrimination in public spaces.

Following this act, Target publicly announced their new bathroom policy. Hoping to strive for equality, Target proclaimed its acceptance of the transgender community by allowing them access to any bathroom fitting their gender identity. This policy would be exclusive to all guests and employees of Target.

The new policy was a step of acceptance, in Target’s eyes, to the LGBT community. The policy extends to not only bathrooms, but fitting rooms at well.

Target, while not the first company to speak out about LGBT rights, is the first to bring the issue to high nationwide attention.

Response to the shift in policy has been both positive and negative, the positive praising Target for its acceptance of the LGBT community, and the negative leading to boycotts and apprehension of the company.

According to Today, the American Family Association began an online petition against the store’s new policy. The petition quickly grew to more than 700,000 signatures. The organization claims the company is “pushing the LGBT agenda too far”.

Negativity towards the company’s new policy has expanded across the nation at such an extreme manner it is going past mere online petitions.

Places such as Oxford, Alabama, for example, have taken the manner into the hands of the law. Earlier this week, the state passed a federal law proclaiming that if one does not use the bathroom corresponding to their assigned sex at birth, they will face jurisdictions.

This law, aimed at Target’s new policy, calls for six months in jail if caught or a fine of 500 dollars. Oxford claims this law is to help against unwanted molestation, voyeurism, or exhibition that may occur due to Target’s new bathroom policy and is not to discriminate against the transgender community.

Despite the backlash, Target stands by their stance for equal opportunities and acceptance.

“Our belief in and commitment to inclusivity has not changed,” asserts Target spokeswoman Molly Snyder, “As a company that firmly stands behind what it means to offer our team an inclusive place to work — and our guests an inclusive place to shop — we continue to believe that this is the right thing for Target” (USA Today).