Target's decision to reaffirm its commitment in 'inclusivity' continues to get backlash. More than a million people have signed a petition to boycott the superstore. Time Warner Cable News reporter Breanna Fuss has a local angle to the national debate.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Change in any case is feared by many, but also celebrated by others. On April 19, Target proved just that, when it announced team members and guests can use the restroom or fitting room that corresponds with their gender identity.
"People are really proud and honored that Target is being so thoughtful, forward thinking and all inclusive in their policies," said Scott Fearing, executive director of Gay Alliance of Genesee Valley.
In the past, Fearing has worked with Target on LGBTQ equality. He's not surprised by the reaction to the company's latest efforts to combat discrimination.
"Folks who are opposed to trans-inclusion have found a place where they can focus their energy and right now they're focusing on Target," Fearing said.
That energy is being poured into a petition set up by the American Family Association. So far, more than a 1 million people have vowed to boycott the store. We sat down with a local Target employee, who wished to remain anonymous. She said the backlash extends far beyond the keyboard.
"We're getting calls, we are getting people coming in our stores, I heard that another store had picketers outside," an employee said.
She added in some cases, the policy change is no change at all.
"For years now we've had 'transgendered' fitting rooms," she explained."We have unisex fitting rooms, it's not like a separate for guys or girls, women or children; it's all one group of fitting rooms in the back."
The petition to #BoycottTarget now has more than 1M signatures. #ROC what are your thoughts? @TWCNewsROC
— Breanna Fuss TWCNews (@BreannaTWCNews) May 1, 2016
Fearing believes it's the fear of the unknown that's deterring shoppers. He points to the connection being made between sexual predators and transgendered people.
"The studies are very clear that people who are sexual predators are not going to be presenting in public in a gender that makes them uncomfortable in order to commit a crime," Fearing said.