Conservative men storm women's toilets at Target to challenge retailer's transgender policy

A group of men from a right-wing organisation is targeting women's restrooms in giant retailer Target to challenge the chain's policy of allowing transgender people to use the toilet corresponding to the gender of their choice.

The American Family Association (AFA) is calling the action a test of the policy. Heterosexual non-transgendered males are not intended to be part of the new Target position, but straight male "testers" in women's restrooms have not been stopped from entering, according to the organisation, reports TPM.

"We've already had people ... going into Targets and men trying to go into bathrooms. There is absolutely no barrier," said a shocked Sandy Rios of AFA.

Opponents of policies allowing transgendered women to use women's restrooms say it sets up the possibility of attacks by men stalking girls in women's loos. The AFA president has called Target's policy a "danger to wives and daughters,"

GOP presidential candidate Ted Cruz has declared that "men should not be going to the bathroom with little girls." Rival Donald Trump believes people should use whichever restroom they want, and Caitlyn Jenner recently enjoyed the women's toilet facilities at Trump's New York hotel. "By the way, Ted," Jenner said in a video of the event, "no one got molested."

The AFA has launched a petition calling on Target to change its policy and is urging a boycott of the chain until it does. So far Target isn't budging.

"In our stores, we demonstrate our commitment to an inclusive experience in many ways," said the retailer in a statement when it announced the new policy. "We welcome transgender team members and guests to use the restroom or fitting room facility that corresponds with their gender identity. Everyone deserves to feel like they belong."

North Carolina and Mississippi have both passed laws restricting people to public toilets that correspond to the gender listed on their birth certificate. Many businesses across the nation allow co-ed restrooms whether a person is transgendered or not.

Police were called recently to an Illinois Target store to respond to an "active shooter situation,"but all they found was an unarmed man protesting Target's toilet policy. He was charged with disorderly conduct.