Targeting target: Petition over firm’s transgender stance nets a million signatures

Over one million people have signed a petition in support of a boycott of Target over the stores inclusive rest room and change room policy.

On Apr 19, the retail giant released a statement which read, “we welcome transgender team members and guests to use the restroom or fitting room facility that corresponds with their gender identity.”

The American Family Association took issue with Target’s stance and launched an online petition the following day urging a boycott of Target, which has been signed by over 1.09 million people.

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The group stated, “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.”

The group believes “Target’s dangerous new policy poses a danger to wives and daughters.”

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While this claim seems to have struck a chord with many Americans, the reality is, there has never been a case of a predator posing as a transgender person and committing an assault in the United States, according to a recent study by NBC News.

The study did note a 2014 incident in which, Christopher Hambrook, a Toronto man posed as a transgender woman named “Jessica” to access two women’s shelters, where he sexually assaulted women. He has since been declared a dangerous offender.

With files from Laura Stone