Target not changing LGBT-friendly bathroom policy despite protests

Retail giant Target is firm in its stance regarding its LGBT-friendly bathroom policy, despite the protests lodged against it.

In an interview on CNBC's "Squawk Box" on Wednesday, Target chairman and CEO Brian Cornell said, "Our focus on safety is unwavering. And we want to make sure we provide a welcoming environment for all of our guests."

The company has come under fire after it announced in April that they are allowing transgender individuals to use their stores' restrooms and fitting rooms based on the customers' gender identity, saying in a statement that "Target supports the federal Equality Act, which provides protections to LGBT individuals, and opposes action that enables discrimination."

More than 1.2 million have expressed their disappointment over the company's policies by pledging to boycott its stores unless they are changed. The petition was spearheaded by the American Family Association, which firmly believes that this is the kind of policy that miscreants use and abuse to conduct their predation on women and children.

"Target's policy is exactly how sexual predators get access to their victims," the Christian group says. "And with Target publicly boasting that men can enter women's bathrooms, where do you think predators are going to go?"

The group has suggested that the company keep men's and women's facilities separate while also providing one for anyone's use. But Cornell said the latter is already available in many of its stores, and they are going to make sure that this option becomes available in all their branches over the coming months.

"What's been lost in this story is the fact that the vast majority of our stores, over 1,400 of our stores, already have a family restroom," Cornell said. "We are committed over the next few months to make sure every one of our stores has that option."

This, however, has loopholes. A man pretending to be transgender still has the option to ignore the unisex restroom or fitting room and use the women's facility. As Carrie Peterson from Utah said, according to The Christian Post, one cannot verify a person's intent and these policies can make women's restrooms "a dangerous place for women and children."

Still, the company is standing firm, with Cornell saying that they want provide a safe and comfortable welcoming environment for everyone. He also said that the current issue is akin to one in the '60s when they featured African-American models in their ads despite the negative reaction they received.

"Back then, it wasn't well received," he said. "We had a lot of tough feedback. But sitting here today, we know we made the right decision."