Online petition for Target boycott gets hundreds of thousands of signatures

Target said its policy is not new, but is a restatement of corporate policy. (target.com)

Target is facing an increasing backlash over its policy allowing customers and employees to use whichever bathroom they choose, regardless of the gender listed on their birth certificates.

A pledge to boycott its stores, launched Wednesday by the American Family Association, received more than 700,000 signatures in almost a week.

“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,” a supporting statement on the website says. “Target’s policy is exactly how sexual predators get access to their victims.”

The AFA then highlights several news articles featuring alleged sexual predators dressing as women to enter female facilities.

But Target spokesperson Molly Snyder told USA Today the company is standing by its policy and “we continue to believe that this is the right thing for Target.” She noted that many stores feature single-stall, family bathrooms in addition to larger facilities.