Target Just Took a Risky but Significant Step in Supporting Transgender Rights

Target made its support of the transgender community public by releasing a statement that says its customers and employees are welcome to use bathrooms and fitting rooms that correspond with their gender identity. The announcement comes after news of a recent North Carolina law that prevents transgender people from using restrooms that match their identity and others like it across different states.

Here is part of the statement:

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 company has already received backlash, with customers commenting that they will boycott the store, but that makes the statement even more significant.

As J. Bryan Lowder writes in Slate:

. . . it's worth noting that unlike other corporations in which consumers may or may not have much investment, Target is the kind of business that's popular in both conservative and liberal communities across the country. All kinds of people shop there for all kinds of things, so to hear the company stand up—explicitly, by name—for trans rights in this way has more impact than the average CEO's signature on a Human Rights Campaign petition.

Target is based in Minneapolis, MN, and has 1,793 stores across the US — you can learn more facts about the inclusive retailer here.