As Summer Shopping Heats Up, AFA Presses on with #BoycottTarget

Imagine a teenage girl, already timid and self-conscious, trying on a bathing suit in the Target fitting room. Now imagine that a man walks in, possibly now in the stall next to her. This is reality, as Target fitting rooms and restrooms for women are open to men who “identify” as female.

This young shopper—and her family—deserve privacy, dignity and safety, which is why American Family Association (AFA, www.afa.net) is pressing on this summer with its immensely successful #BoycottTarget campaign that began in April.

The boycott—with more than 1.3 million signatures behind it—moves forward, especially after Target executives made no effort at the shareholder meeting earlier this month to address concerns about the controversial bathroom policy that has Americans and family organizations deeply concerned.

“With summer picnics and Independence Day family get-togethers just around the corner, Americans will be spending thousands of dollars on food, gifts, vacation supplies and much more,” said AFA President Tim Wildmon. “And much of that money will be spent at retailers other than Target, due to the retailer’s disregard for families. Target executives and marketing leaders should have thought twice about all the business that would go elsewhere before they publicized a policy that appeases a small minority and leaves the majority to find new places to shop this summer.”

Representing AFA at the shareholder meeting on June 8 was Public Policy Analyst Abraham Hamilton III, who reminded Target leaders, including CEO Brian Cornell, of the real possibility that sexual predators may take advantage of the policy, thereby putting women and children at risk. Hamilton added that Target shareholders who share AFA’s worries were also present, but the corporate answer that the policy “is in the company’s best interest in the long term” was unchanged.