Although Target is trying to be a safe space for its transgender customers, their trans employees may have it a bit rougher.
Transgender Target employee Maxwell Jamison works in Phoenix, and he’s written a now-viral Facebook post about transphobic behavior he’s observed in the wake of Target’s public pro-trans stance:
Over the past week since Target announced their inclusive restroom policy following the North Carolina bathroom bill, I’ve had to endure multiple conversations regarding what rights trans people deserve. These comments coming from the guests at my store, my fellow coworkers, and even a few of my supervisors.
I have been told that trans people ought to use “the bathroom that matches their junk,” that a “man in a dress” is going to sexually assault everyone’s daughters, our store has been threatened and cursed out by guests, and the amount of rampant transphobia that’s taken place in store and online this past week has been nauseating.
So, here I am, in the men’s restroom at Target, a trans man, standing up for my trans siblings out there who’ve had to listen and read the same bullshit I’ve been experiencing. Know that for every negative thought some bigot has had about us, there are other gender-dismantling folks out there standing up for our right to use whatever restroom we please, in Target, in restaurants, in shopping malls, wherever.
There’s more where that came from, though Max says he’s received an overwhelming amount of support for speaking out about the issue.
Transphobic and insensitive language from customers is one thing, but if he’s hearing it from coworkers and supervisors, he may want to take it up with management…or an attorney.
rickhfx
Continue to stand up for yourself, it will be a hard road at times. You are a hero for speaking out.
joeyty
Would anybody even know this guy was trans unless he told them ?
Louis
So sad I knew this wouldnt change things not immediately anyways.
But I am hopeful with time and hopefully that means soon it will start to change .
These people simply need to not establish this store if they cant even act like polite mature and open minded human beings period.
As far as the employees thats workplace discrimination he could easily get them reprimanded or fired for this kind of unprofessional and uncalled for behavior.
Its bad enough when the customers act this way but when the people surrounding you are just as bad thats just crossing the boundaries of common human decency .
Aromaeus
@joeyty: Why would that matter at all? You don’t stop being at risk of transphobic attacks just because you are cis passing just like you don’t stop being at risk of homophobic attacks because you can pass for straight.
I work at Target as well and thankfully I haven’t experienced any workplace discrimination but I have heard that management has gotten some nasty calls since Target made the announcement. For the most part though it’s the same old same old.
joeyty
@Aromaeus: I don’t want anyone being harrassed. It’s just that with this case I don’t fully understand where the harrassment or hostility is coming rom. Firstly, did Maxwell Jamison transition from female to male ?
IDoNotHaveToAgreeWithYou
You are infringing on other’s rights. It is that simple. You are not so special that you get to take away the privacy and rights of hundreds of millions of Americans. Get over yourself. And stop associating your crossdressing fetish with gays. You are nothing but a burden and are dragging down our movement for equal rights.
DMRX
@joeyty: Yes, he transitioned from female to male. That’s what “trans man” means.
DMRX
@IDoNotHaveToAgreeWithYou: So… You’d prefer that this guy use the women’s restroom?
joeyty
@DMRX: So he’s supposed to be male now and that’s that. But everybody at work knows he’s trans? Howso ? (I’m not arguing, I just wonder if I missed something).