Target: Use the bathroom of your 'gender identity'

Visit a Target and use whichever bathroom you’d like.

That’s the message the retail giant appears to be sending with a new statement on its website that ostensibly takes aim at so-called “bathroom laws” seeking to restrict men’s and women’s bathrooms to the sex listed on a person’s birth certificate.

“In our stores, we demonstrate our commitment to an inclusive experience in many ways,” the statement said. “Most relevant for the conversations currently under way, we welcome transgender team members and guests to use the restroom or fitting room facility that corresponds with their gender identity.”

Target’s policy is not new, but is simply a more pronounced “restatement” of an existing corporate rule, Target spokeswoman Molly Snyder told the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

The bathroom question turned into a national debate after North Carolina enacted legislation in March to restrict who could and could not use men’s and women’s bathrooms. Proponents of the law believe it’s needed to keep potential sexual predators out of the bathroom of the opposite sex. Opponents say it’s insensitive to transgender people, who don’t identify with the gender on their birth certificate.

The law gained even more notoriety after several music acts, such as Pearl Jam, Bruce Springsteen and Ringo Starr, canceled concerts in the state in response to the legislation.

“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,” Target’s statement said.

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