Oxford, Alabama, population 21,000, on
Tuesday responded to Target's bathroom policy by making it illegal
for transgender people to use the bathroom that they identify with.
Last week, Target said that it welcomed
“transgender team members and guests to use the restroom or fitting
room facility that corresponds with their gender identity”
The Christian conservative group
American Family Association (AFA) called on its members to boycott
the retail giant.
Steven Waits, president of Oxford's
council, said that the city was taking action “to protect our women
and children.”
He said that he's received an
“overwhelming” number of complaints from city residents opposed
to Target's bathroom policy as it relates to transgender people.
Target has a store in Oxford.
Violators of the new ordinance, which
passed unanimously, face a $500 fine or six month jail sentence, the
Anniston Star reported.
Police Chief Bill Partridge explained
to AL.com
how the law would work: “If somebody sees something that makes them
uncomfortable, they would call the police. If the person is still
there when the officer arrives, the officer has to witness the crime.
Then we take down the person's information, and the person who
reported it has to sign out a warrant.”