Target to Target

There has been major uproar on social media since Target made their announcement about who can use their bathrooms.  Yes, I am a Christian; Yes, I don’t agree with gay/bisexual/trans lifestyles; No, I do not discriminate against them just because I don’t believe in the same things as them.  I have had many “lesbian” friends when I was younger and working in retail.  Once I left and started my family we lost contact, I actually lost contact with pretty much everyone in life at that time.  My family became my priority, and continues to be, which is why I’m so against Target.  I have 2 daughters and I DO NOT take lightly to their innocence or safety.  I read this Open Letter to Target today on a blog “From Martha to Mary” HERE, or you can just keep reading as it below also.

I will openly say I’ve been a victim, and I will do whatever it takes to protect my children from going through everything I went through.  I will also add that I have 2 fathers, a husband, and 6 brothers who are extremely over protected, some being miltary and all having a love of guns.  Mostly,  I just pray that God will protect my babies from all of this.

To Whom It May Concern:

I am a woman. I am a frequent shopper in your stores. I am first and foremost a mother. Your recent change in policy of who you allow to use each restroom concerns me. You stated in your blog post, “We believe that everyone…deserves to be protected from discrimination and treated equally.” and “…you’ll always be accepted, respected, and welcomed at Target.” As a business owner, I do understand your right to make a stance as a company. As a parent, I will never understand why you would trade the safety of our women and children for the sake of not hurting  feelings.

I realize that everyone needs to feel accepted, loved, and wanted. I know the struggles of a person struggling to find their identity. I also know that as of September 2012, a Gallup poll showed that approximately 3.4% of Americans identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender. If, for argument’s sake, we assume that those groups are of equal representation in that number, that would indicate that of the American population, only 0.85% of Americans identify as transgender.

Let’s also look at other statistics, taken from RAINN.ORG:

1 in 6 women will be the victim of attempted or completed rape in her lifetime.

1 in 9 girls under 18 have REPORTED being the victim of sexual assault.

1 in 53 boys under 18 have REPORTED being the victim of sexual assault.

These numbers factor out to being 16.67% of women, 11.11% of girls, and 1.89% of boys.If anyone is allowed to “claim” an identity of a gender not their own, they will have unlimited access to anyone they so choose. A woman could claim to “identify as a man” and YOUR little boy could become 1 in 9 in an instant.

A man could claim to “identity as a woman” and have instant access to myself and my daughters. BAM. I am 1 in 6 and my little girls are 1 in 9.

You have taken the FEELINGS of LESS THAN ONE PERCENT of our population into account  and in one swift statement told the entire country that the safety of our vulnerable women and children is of no concern to you or your staff.

I have questions:

How can you ensure that the people entering the restrooms of the opposite gender are, indeed, of the “gender persuasion” they are currently claiming to identify with?

Are you willing to send your wives and daughters into a restroom that is occupied by another man and trust that he is who he says he is? How about your son with a  woman?

How should I handle an instance where my two and four year olds see a man’s private parts and I have to explain a) why she saw his genitals and b) why is in a women’s restroom long before they should ever have to consider such adult matters?

And, lastly:

WHY are you willing to forego the physical safety of the many to appease the internal struggle of the few?I’ve never “boycotted” a company based on political views. However, I will refuse to use a company for the safety of my children.Target, you have lost a loyal customer because you have betrayed my trust. My children’s safety comes first.

Cate

Source: An Open Letter to Target: Regarding your New Restroom Policy