Massive uproar follows Target’s transgender bathroom statement

More than a million people have pledged to boycott Target after the company released a statement about its stance on transgender bathrooms.

Retail giant Target recently released a statement on its website describing its stance on the nationwide debate over restroom access for transgender people, and a wave of backlash has already begun to sweep the company. According to a report from Forbes, the retailer’s consumer perception has considerably declined after they announced an inclusive stance toward any and all shoppers at its stores.

A recent survey from the YouGov BrandIndex shows that the number of people who would consider shopping at a Target location when they needed to visit a department store fell from 42 percent to 38 percent following the release of the statement.

The company made a post to its website on April 19 that said it would allow transgender shoppers to use the bathroom that they felt the most comfortable using. The statement came in response to a national backlash to a recent North Carolina that restricted public restroom access to the gender listed on a person’s birth certificate.

The law has prompted cries from people all over the country on both sides of the debate – those who believe that a person using the bathroom should be treated with a certain degree of privacy and respect, and those who see transgender people using a bathroom of their preference as a serious issue.

Already, a number of musicians and celebrities have cancelled appearances in North Carolina, and many companies have announced plans to pull business from the state in response to the law.

Target has now come under fire for its inclusive stance with regards to its restrooms. The American Family Association has collected over 1 million signatures from people pledging to boycott the store for allowing shoppers to pick a bathroom that they feel comfortable using.

“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,” said the statement.

A press release describing the recent policy at Target can be found here.