Target bathrooms present important opportunities for the transgender community

    National retailer Target recently announced in a blog post that the company “welcomes transgender team members and guests to use the restroom or fitting room facility that corresponds with their gender identity.”

    I know that this a controversial topic, but we really need to focus on something here: it shouldn’t be so controversial.

    People against this change, like the American Family Association, are making the argument that this encourages sexual predators and puts women and young girls in danger because “a man can simply say he ‘feels like a woman today’ and enter the women’s restroom,” according to afa.net, the American Family Association’s website.

    I understand that this is a worry to a lot of women, including myself, but if a sexual predator is out there, he’s out there. If he’s going to follow a woman into a restroom, he’s not going to care if he is neglecting the women’s sign on the door.

    If you are uncomfortable with the new rights the transgender community is being given, or if you are only worried about sexual predators, you can always use the single-stall, family restrooms that hundreds of Target stores have. And I’m sure people who have problems with this issue have used single-stall restrooms before, and have unknowingly shared a bathroom with a transgender person. It’s inevitable.

    Another point is that every bathroom in a person’s home is for every gender. Having gender neutral bathrooms would sort of be like just sharing a bathroom at home. Although only one person uses it at a time, most parents wouldn’t deny their transgender children the right to the restroom.

    And if that still doesn’t tickle your fancy, and you still do not agree with what is happening at Target, that is okay. Don’t go to Target—that’s fine. I’m sure their business will still be successful without disapproving customers.

    The arguments from protesters and boycotters are distracting from the magnitude of the situation. Since Target made this change to their restrooms, transgender people now have a place to feel comfortable shopping and working. This is a huge step in the right direction for the transgender community, and people complaining about it are raining on their parade.

    The most important thing to remember is something we learned in elementary school: be nice to each other. Although you may not agree with the way someone is living their life, it does not directly affect you, so don’t worry about it. Minding your own business will make the world a happier place, and it will make life easier for people who struggle daily because of this issue.