Franklin Graham: Target CEO in denial, refuses to acknowledge plummeting stock is due to new transgender bathroom policy

Evangelist Franklin Graham has said this week that even though Target's stocks have dropped sharply its CEO is still refusing to face reality and admit the real reason for the company's plummeting stock value.

Graham said the stocks of the retail company have gone down because of its insistence in implementing its transgender bathroom policy in which people born male, who not identify as female are allowed to use women's bathrooms and changing rooms in Target stores. However, he said, Target CEO Brian Cornell is still "in denial" over it.

Cornell reportedly attributed the company's decreasing stock value to "unfavorable weather trends in the Northeast."

"Target stock is tumbling after they announced a pro-transgender restroom policy allowing men to use women's bathrooms and changing rooms," Graham wrote on Facebook. "Stock value has fallen 20 percent and shareholder value has lost $10 billion since they began promoting this dangerous policy."

Graham said what's happening to Target now is a clear indication that many Americans are not in favor of the transgender bathroom policy.

The evangelist also noted Cornell's statement to Forbes last week that the issue has not had a "measurable impact" on the business. Cornell apparently said only a "handful of stores" were affected.

Graham said with more than 1.2 million people signing the online petition to boycott the retail company, the message that Americans want to send is very strong. He urged more people to sign the petition.

In defense, Target explained that the bathroom policy was implemented to make all customers feel welcome. However, the American Family Association (AFA), which heads the petition, challenged this idea, saying it can expose women to dangerous situations.

AFA said the bathroom policy can allow a man who "feels like a woman" on a particular day to enter the women's bathroom that is being used by women and young girls.

"Target's policy is exactly how sexual predators get access to their victims," the petition read.