@Ms. AntiFeminazi @sinkspurHere’s the thing. Even with a policy or absent one, transgender people having been using the bathrooms that matches their outward appearance for a long time. I will also note that Donald Trump said that Caitlyn (Bruce) Jenner could use the women’s rest room at any of his properties including Trump Tower (which she/he did) but yet I don’t see anyone calling for a boycott of Trump owned properties.
Wal-Mart doesn’t have an official policy as to their rest rooms one way or another and will not make a comment (sort of like a “don’t ask – don’t tell” policy) but recently added gender identity and expression to their non-discrimination policy. IIRC, Wal-Mart also extends benefits to same sex couples. So why not also boycott Wal-Mart? And FWIW, I’ve seen more freaks while shopping at Wal-Mart than I have at Target. My niece’s husband and I were shopping at a Wal-Mart late one evening and saw more than one person who we could have snapped a picture of and submitted to the “People of Wal-Mart” site.
Having a corporate policy prohibiting the use of bathrooms based on a person’s birth gender, while I think makes sense, it is going to be difficult to enforce unless the man is obviously male (and who is going to ask to see a birth certificate and or do a penis check before allowing someone to use the bathroom) and it is not going to necessarily keep pedophiles out of bathrooms. As to people who are transsexuals, in some cases it would be obvious, in other not so much. For instance, if a convincing looking tranny, say someone who looks like Ru Paul goes into the ladies’ room, most people would not take much notice. But if he went into the men’s room?
I wrote this post on TOS a while back but it should be noted that this convenience store chain did not have a policy allowing anyone who identifies as “female” from going into the ladies’ room, but yet it happened. My problem with the Target and other company’s policies, isn’t so much having to do with transsexuals but the part about “how the person identifies” as I explained in my post here:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/3423728/postsWhile I don’t agree with Target’s policy, I would note that it is also the policy of many other companies so why just “target” Target, but that alone does not stop me from shopping there.
I have to confess I have a soft spot for Target.
I lost my job in early 2009 but as I was working as an independent contractor, I was not eligible for unemployment benefits. While I was sending out nearly 5-10 resumes out a day and pounding the pavement, but no one would hire me – I was either under qualified or over qualified but most didn’t give me a reason. After nearly a year of being unemployed I exhausted all my savings and ended up selling my townhouse in a short sale, moving in with my niece and declaring bankruptcy.
I interviewed for at least three jobs where I was turned down because of my negative credit report and pending bankruptcy as a result of my pre-employment background check. In desperation I started applying for part time retail jobs. Of all the retailers I applied to, Target gave me a job. I was so grateful to finally have a job and some income.
I was concerned about my negative credit report and pending bankruptcy and discussed this the beforehand with the Target HR rep. But she told me that while they did perform criminal background checks and that I’d have to pass a drug screen, they didn’t perform credit checks. When I told her about my circumstances, she told me that she understood having had some friends and family members in the same boat.
I started working for Target in October and worked during the very busy holiday/Christmas season and beyond and I worked my butt off, worked all available hours including a 10-hour shift on Black Friday and an 8-hour shift on Christmas Eve, being paid time and half. Just after Christmas I was offered a permanent job that could become a fulltime job and was very tempted to take it – but I was offered a job in my field that offered a much better salary and benefits and M- F 9-5 hours and in my field. I found however, that Target was a good company for which to work.
As to people going into Target and handing out flyers and in some cases harassing employees, here is something I wrote and posted on another web forum about a customer at Target I encountered while I worked there. A friend of mine asked my permission and published it in his church newsletter:
I was working at my seasonal retail job today, (a big national retailer). I was working in the toy department which is near the seasonal section, when I saw an older lady who appeared to be looking for something and not all too happy.
The good worker that I am, I went up to her with a smile and asked, “Can I help you find something?” She, while sporting a rather sour expression said, “Yes. Do you have anything “True Meaning”?”
I'm thinking being that we are in seasonal, perhaps this is some type of collectible brand, so I politely ask, “What type of item are you looking for?” She with a big tisk, tisk says rather loudly, “Don't you know about “True Meaning”? That is the real meaning of Christmas! The Birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! You should be ashamed of yourself not to know that but this is to be expected from the type of people who work at this store.”
I wanted to say, “Hey lady that's just fantastic about Jesus' birthday and all that, but that doesn't tell me about what the heck are you looking for right now.” But instead I smiled and taking a stab in the dark asked, “Are you perhaps looking for a Nativity set?” She curtly said “Yes,” and I with a smile said, “Ah great, let me see what we have.” I keyed in “Nativity” into the hand held scanner and voila! It came back with several hits and gave me a location that was several aisles away.
So I cheerfully asked her to follow me and I showed her the several very nice Nativity sets we had. Then she said, “No! I'm looking for something for outdoors!” What I wanted to say was, “Well you might have been a little more specific on what you were looking for because I failed mind reading in college.” But no, no, no. Instead I looked at my scanner again and smiled and said, “I'm sorry but it appears that we don't carry any outdoor Nativity displays”.
“Is there anything else I can help you with?” To which she said, “Well next time You have one of your meetings, “You” can tell “Them” that “They” have a very unhappy customer”. What I wanted to say was, “Sure, I'm going to fly out to corporate headquarters in Minnesota first thing in the morning and let the board of directors know all about your concerns.” But instead I said, “I'm sorry we didn't have what you were looking for,” and I suggested a few local garden and home centers that might carry what she was looking for and then she just walked away in a huff, saying nothing. I went back to the toy department to continue stocking the shelves.
When I got there, there were four older ladies with two shopping carts completely full of toys, talking with one of my co-workers; a very nice young college student, also a seasonal worker who started the same week I did. One of the women said to me, “This guy is awesome!” to which another of the women said “Yes he is! He's wonderful!” Another said, “He should get a raise”. I really thought they were going to hug and kiss him.
One of the women told me they were buying toys for a family who had a child in the hospital with cancer and who really needed help providing a nice Christmas. They had a list of toys that this kid and his siblings had asked Santa for, that I presume either the parents couldn't afford to buy or with a very sick child in the hospital, didn't have time to shop themselves.
For the most part these ladies had no idea what the toys on the list were, let alone where to find them. But my young co-worker helped these women find every single toy on their list. They were so appreciative of his help and my help finding the last few items, and so happy that they had found everything on the list.
One of the ladies told us, “Remember this family on Christmas in your prayers and feel good that you helped make it a bit brighter for them.” My co-worker blushed a bit and said “You're welcome, I was happy I could help you.” I don't know if the ladies were from a church or other organization or just neighbors or co-workers of the parents. They didn't say.
I briefly thought about finding the first sour pussed old hag and telling her, “If you are really interested in finding something “True Meaning” I can introduce you to four ladies and a nice young gentleman who can clue you in on it. A hint for you; it's not about finding the biggest lighted nativity scene for your front yard or a wreath with a Jesus is the Reason for the Season ribbon.” But no, I didn't. I really need this job right now. But when I clocked out for the night, I wrote up a “Team Member Appreciation” card for my co-worker. He deserved it.
If any of you who disagree with Target’s or any number of other companies with similar policies, but decide to go to a Target to voice your opinion, please don’t take it out on the people working in the store. They didn’t make the policy, some may even agree with you, but they may just need their job.
