Humans of Coronado is a photo series where we “bump” into residents and visitors around the island, completely unplanned and unfiltered. It was inspired by Humans of New York. Next time you are out and about around town, you may just find yourself part of the next HoC series!
This segment of Humans of Coronado concerns Target’s official statement Continuing to Stand for Inclusivity, which the retailer released on April 19, 2016. The retailer announced, “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.” The statement continued with, “We welcome transgender team members and guests to use the restroom or fitting room facility that corresponds with their gender identity.”
Some consumers lauded the retailer’s decision to allow all who enter their store, including employees and customers, to choose which restrooms and fitting rooms best meet individuals’ gender identities even if they differ from their naturally born genders. Other groups of people, however, were outraged by Target’s statement.
The American Family Association started an online pledge for people to sign to boycott Target. The pledge says, “Target’s store policy endangers women and children by allowing men to frequent women’s facilities. Until Target makes the safety of women and children a priority, I will shop elsewhere.” According to AFA President Tim Wildmon, “Target’s policy is exactly how sexual predators get access to their victims.” Over one million people have already signed the online pledge.
(Photo courtesy of Google Images)
What do these Humans of Coronado think of Target’s policy that allows people to choose the restrooms and fitting rooms that correspond with their gender identities?
Click the photos below to launch the gallery.
“My opinion is that genders should remain in their proper bathrooms. The safety of women and children, or men for that matter, should be respected.”
“Having recently been to Australia, I realized that they’ve already attacked this problem head on, and they allow for gender neutral bathrooms in addition to the gender specific bathrooms. This would solve the problem in Target and every other area in the U.S. Simply add an extra gender neutral bathroom to each place’s public restrooms, and people can choose if they use that restroom or if they use a gender specific restroom.”
“I’m torn because I’m all about people’s rights, and I have nothing against gay people, transgender people, whatever. Any kind of people are fine! As a mom, I wouldn’t know how to explain that to my kids. They [Target] have the family restrooms so maybe they [transgender people] can go in that one. “
“Here we go again with people wanting a label. Hear me roar because I am special, just like everyone else. I thought we are trying to live peacefully among one another, but look at this segregation once again. Unisex bathroom and dressing room . . . problem solved, and get rid of the drama. We have enough of that nowadays. Remember you are special just like everybody else. If you want a label, buy a T-shirt! I am starting to feel like if you are not outwardly different, you just won’t make it nowadays. Crazy world. This topic drives me crazy!”
“I don’t really care about the dressing rooms because they’re already open, and they’re unisex, and everyone has an individual stall. That’s fine. The restroom is kind of the same way. You’re going to come and go in a restroom with a stall. It’s not like you’re exposed anyways. If it’s a male in a female bathroom, he needs to be in a stall not out where you would be in a male’s bathroom, at a urinal. I’m not okay with that. Everyone is in a stall anyway. It could be a unisex bathroom, just not urinals where someone’s exposing themselves publicly when little children and women are in that bathroom.”
“I believe until we go to a gender neutral restroom and fitting room, I think gender is determined by what the person was born with. They should use those facilities appropriate to the gender that they were born with because that’s what determines gender. Also the other problem I think that that will prevent is none of us are qualified to psychologically evaluate transgender people to determine whether or not the man or woman that’s coming into the opposite sex’s facility is actually a transgender. We’re not qualified to make that determination. Until that all is settled, I have to go with the safety of everyone in respect to everyone’s privacy.”
Resident, Educator, Military Spouse, and Mother."I haven't been everywhere, but it's on my list." - Susan Sontag.Have news to share? Send tips, story ideas or letters to the editor to: [email protected]
