Target Announces Bathroom Policy

Target Corp. (Minneapolis) announced last week that the company would allow customers and employees to choose restrooms and fitting rooms that match their gender identities. The move comes after North Carolina passed a law barring transgender people from using bathrooms aligning with gender identities.

The New York Times reports Target’s announcement is the strongest position taken by a national retailer on the issue, though other companies, such as Barnes & Noble Inc. (New York) and Hudson’s Bay Company (Toronto), have enacted similar policies to explicitly allow transgender people to use bathrooms aligning with gender identity. The move has been met with strong support and criticisms.

Conservative groups have condemned the business and proposed boycotts due to arguments about public safety, and a petition against the move started by the American Family Association has earned 900,000 signatures. Yet supporters of transgender rights have praised the move as progressive and inclusive.