Men Can Use Target's Women's Bathrooms, Experiment Reportedly Showed

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — As a petition declaring a boycott against big box giant Target nears 1 million signatures, a St. Petersburg man decided to see just how serious the chain was about allowing customers to use restrooms of their choosing.

To that end, Andy Park reportedly paid a recent visit to the Bay Pines Target and asked if he was allowed to use the women’s restroom, several media outlets have reported. Park recorded the exchange with Target employees on video. That video was initially posted to YouTube, showing Target staff assuring Park it was acceptable for him to use the women’s bathroom. Park has since taken the video down after it generated heated debate.

The video was posted by Park just days after Target announced a national policy change. The retailer has stated it wants to create a more “inclusive experience” for its transgender team members and customers by allowing them to use the restroom or changing room that “corresponds with their gender identity.”

See Also:

• Florida School District Passes Transgender Bathroom Ban
• Federal Court Throws Out Transgender Bathroom Rule

Target issued its statement on inclusivity on April 19 as national debate on proposed laws in several states waged. Those laws would, among other things, require transgendered people to use the restroom facilities that correspond with their biological sex.

“In our stores, we demonstrate our commitment to an inclusive experience in many ways,” Target’s statement says. “Most relevant for the conversations currently underway, we welcome transgender team members and guests to use the restroom or fitting room facility that corresponds with their gender identity.”

That statement reportedly piqued Park’s interest. The 57-year-old decided to test the policy by hiding a camera phone in his shirt as he proceeded to see if he would be allowed to use the women’s facilities.

Park, who identified himself as gay, told the Tampa Bay Times he is not anti-LGBT. He isn’t opposed to transgendered people using the restroom they are most comfortable with, but he’s not so keen on the idea that any man can waltz into a women’s bathroom.

“This is nothing against trans people,” the Times quoted Park as saying. “I’m just someone who strongly believes we have to look after people who can’t look after themselves, like the very young or the very old.”

It is unclear why Park has removed the video of his exchange from YouTube.

The petition against Target’s policy is being sponsored by the American Family Association. As of Thursday morning, it had more than 963,700 signatures.

Petition or not, Target is showing no signs of backing off it's policy change. "We continue to believe that this is the right thing for Target," a statement from the company said.

The Marion County School District recently voted to overturn its own bathroom policy. As of Wednesday, transgendered students were ordered to use restrooms that correspond to their sex at birth.

Patch file photo