Transgender Restrooms and Fitting Rooms: Should Christians Boycott Target?

When I first heard the news about Target and their new Transgender bathroom and fitting room policy announced on Tuesday, April 19, 2016—I prayed. I prayed for the Lord to give me wisdom in conversations regarding this issue, and for the safety of innocent women and children who may be endangered by those who would abuse this policy to satisfy their sinful passions.

The crux of Target's policy is summed up in this quote, "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."

Before you get offended by my prayers, please understand, I absolutely do not think everyone who identifies themselves as transgender is more perverse than those who don't. I know for a fact that all people: gay, straight, transgender, Black, White, Asian, etc. are all inherently perverse (wayward, wicked, corrupt—sinful) before the sight of a holy God—and that includes me.

As God Almighty has revealed in His Word, only through repentance and faith in the atoning work of Jesus Christ alone, can anyone do anything that is good and acceptable in the sight of the Righteous Judge of all—the Great I AM. 

Sexual Predators Posing As Transgender

Sadly, to inflame this already heated debate, there have been erroneous news reports from both Christian and non-Christian sites regarding sexual predators posing as transgender females in order to abuse innocent women and children. One of the faulty reports is about 33-year-old Jason Pomare, who fraudulently posed as a transgender female in order to use the women's bathroom at a Macy's store in Palmdale, California. Though the news reports of this incident are accurate, the reports about when and why it happened are not. This incident did not take place in April 2016, but actually took place in May of 2013. Therefore, though what Pomare did was atrocious (videotaping women in bathroom stalls), this incident did not occur due to any recent battles regarding laws or policies that make provisions for transgender people to use whichever restroom or dressing room they prefer.

But just because the date of the incident was incorrect doesn't mean we ought to foolishly discount the entire report...because it did happen. Sexual predators like Jason Pomare of California, and 37-year-old Christopher Hambrook of Toronto, are everywhere. And there are countless other sexually deviant men and women like them, who already have, and will continue to falsely pose as transgender men and women in order to prey on and abuse the innocent.

Again, I am not accusing all transgender men and women of this crime, I am rightly accusing anyone; truly transgender or falsely transgender, who will see policies like Target's as a gateway for their ruse to abuse.

Biblical Perspective on Transgender Restrooms and Dressing Rooms

As a Christian, I am not alarmed by this policy. We live in a fallen world, and my Lord Jesus already warned all who belong to Him, of the trials and tribulations we will suffer in this life (John 16:33). With His warnings, Jesus also plainly revealed how we, as dearly beloved children of the Most High God ought to respond.

Christians are commanded by God to faithfully, lovingly and boldly preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ in order that some may be saved. We are commanded to protect the innocent and wish no ill on anyone, but to speak up and fight for the protection of the innocent. We are not, however, called to fight social battles that neither endangers nor threatens the welfare of others (e.g., boycotting Starbucks and other companies who choose to say "Happy Holidays" rather than "Merry Christmas"). However, this issue of allowing transgender people to use whichever restroom or dressing room they prefer does jeopardize the safety of innocent women and children by exposing them to falsified transgender men and women. And this is why we must speak up and take action.

Therefore, every Christian ought to boycott Target because Target is foolishly entrapping innocent people by exposing them to the wave of sexual predators who have, and will continue to abuse policies like these.

Reasonable Solution

If Target or other companies want to include transgender people, then they ought to assign bathrooms and dressing rooms that are unisex. That way, those who feel comfortable using the same restroom or dressing room with a transgender male or female, will be able to do so, without forcing those who are uncomfortable with this arrangement to comply.

PARENTS BE ADVISED: the video below is not appropriate for young children.