Walmart pleads the Fifth

by Austin Stallings
Journalism Intern

The country’s biggest retailer, Walmart, has found itself cornered amidst a heated debate over bathroom policies for transgender customers and employees.

Their answer appears to be simple: remain silent until this whole thing blows over. However, many have been questioning the retail giant all week and they do not appear to be giving up anytime soon.

Walmart’s silence is noticeably different than their biggest competition, Target, who made waves nearly a month ago when they affirmed that transgender people could use the bathroom of their gender identity.

"Walmart's silence on this is more than just silence. It's giving bigotry a free pass," said Jessica Levin, communications director for the advocacy group Making Change at Walmart.

"It's the number one retailer in the country and it could set the standard for what other retailers do."

Aimee Toms, the Connecticut woman who said she was harassed in a Walmart bathroom, said Walmart is likely keeping quiet on its bathroom rules to avoid backlash.

"Walmart is damned whether they do or they don't," Toms told the News.

"If they speak out, depending on which position they take, they'll either have supporters or nay-sayers boycotting and signing petitions."

Tensions over transgender bathrooms continue to escalate as 12 states have now filed lawsuits against the Obama administration.

The Gayly- 5/27/2016 @ 4:00 p.m. CDT