Walgreens to allow bathroom choice

DEERFIELD, Ill. — A new companywide policy permits customers at Walgreens stores to use the store bathroom that aligns with their gender identity. The policy announcement came in response to discussions with Walgreens initiated by the ACLU’s Southern California (SoCal) chapter on behalf of Jessie Meehan, who was refused entrance into a women’s restroom in a Walgreens store in Hollywood because she “dressed like a man.” Meehan identifies as female. The ACLU SoCal said Walgreens issued the new “Transgender Inclusion” policy after those discussions. The policy, dated Nov. 21, 2017, is to be implemented across Walgreens’ 8,000 stores nationwide. (TAB)