Right-wing hate group continues to push Target boycott over trans affirmative policies

According to the American Family Association’s website, 1,237,879 people have signed their pledge to boycott Target stores over Target’s trans affirmative policies.

In the face of right-wing hostility, Target reaffirmed its policy on transgender employees and customers. The statement, issued in April says:

“Recent debate around proposed laws in several states has reignited a national conversation around inclusivity. So earlier this week, we reiterated with our team members where Target stands and how our beliefs are brought to life in how we serve our guests.

“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.

“We believe that everyone—every team member, every guest, and every community—deserves to be protected from discrimination, and treated equally. Consistent with this belief, Target supports the federal Equality Act, which provides protections to LGBT individuals, and opposes action that enables discrimination.

“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.

“We regularly assess issues and consider many factors such as impact to our business, guests and team members. Given the specific questions these legislative proposals raised about how we manage our fitting rooms and restrooms, we felt it was important to state our position.

“Everyone deserves to feel like they belong. And you’ll always be accepted, respected and welcomed at Target.”

The American Family Association, on its webpage promoting the boycott, quotes the Target statement, “Everyone deserves to feel like they belong,” and launches into their twisted explanation of what that means.

The webpage says, “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. 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. Over 1 million people agree with us and pledged to boycott Target stores until protecting women and children is a priority.”

The controversy, stirred by right-wing hate groups like the AFA, have resulted in bizarre incidents.

On Mother’s day, a Bible-bearing Christian mom went on an anti-LGBT tirade at Target, shouting “Are you gonna let the devil rape your children?” according to Towleroad.com.

In another Target store, a protestor’s behavior was so concerning that he was identified (incorrectly) as an “active shooter.”

The American Family Association has long been identified as an anti-LGBT hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center. According to their website, “The AFA says it promotes "traditional moral values" in media. A large part of that work involves ‘combating the homosexual agenda’ through various means, including publicizing companies that have pro-gay policies and organizing boycotts against them.”

Doubling down on their policy in the face of AFA’s hateful call for a boycott, Target’s CEO reaffirmed the company’s policy. Despite a petition of over 1.2 million signatures, Target CEO Brian Cornell says that the company will not change its stance on transgender bathrooms.

In an interview on CNBC on Wednesday, Cornell said he continues to believe that Target made the right decision in supporting transgender rights.

"We took a stance and we are going to continue to embrace our belief of diversity and inclusion," Cornell said. 

The Gayly – May 15, 2016 @ 4:35 p.m.