A conservative group has challenged Target's controversial transgender bathroom policy by sending men into women's bathroom. After the policy went into effect, the company's stocks have dropped.
In a report by Time, a leader for the American Family Association said on Monday that they were sending men into women's restrooms to test the policy. The American Family Association has strongly opposed the transgender-inclusive bathroom policy of the company since the implementation.
The statement from Sandy Rios, the director for government affairs for the American Family Association, said in a statement that men who went through women's bathrooms revealed there are no barriers in the restrooms. Rios added that the main concern of the group is about "predators who will take advantage."
Target has allowed their customers to use bathrooms and dressing rooms that correspond with the gender they are most comfortable with and not the gender that is assigned to them at birth. According to the Sacramento Bee, more than 1.1 million have signed American Family Association's online petition to boycott Target because of their policy. Rios added that the policy could also encourage men dressed as women to use the bathrooms that could create "trauma for little girls."
Despite the claims of the American Family Association, LGBTQ activists are saying that there has been no increase in reports of sexual predators in bathrooms in the cities that have implemented trans-inclusive bathroom policies. Organizations devoted to ending violence against women also claim that policies like that of Target will increase the likelihood of sex crimes, but the LGBTQ activists say that the notion is false.
In relation to Target's policy, Daily Signal reported that there has been a decrease in the stocks of Target. Target's common stock dropped from opening price of $83.50 per share April 19 to a closing price of $79.99 per share May 3, which is a 4.2 percent decline over the past two weeks.
Despite the calls for a boycott and the drop in stocks, Target has remained firm with their stance regarding transgender-inclusive bathrooms.
