On Saturday night a woman came into @Target in SLC not wearing a mask and was immediately aggressive toward me. Per my job - I offered her a mask, told her about contactless shopping, and finally allowed her to shop maskless as long as she maintained socially distancing. (1/x)

This wasn’t enough to calm her. She wanted to “educate” me with fake facts about how this virus that infected 500,000 Americans was fake. I asked her to go on and do her shopping and to leave me alone. She didn’t, she wanted to educate me if I was going to tell her how (2/x)

to shop. She was cursing, getting her spittle on me as she yelled - constantly misgendering me even though my pronouns are on my name tag and I was present very feminine. Eventually a guest stepped in and defended me, she began to yell at the guest. The guest corrected (3/x)

the hostile woman for misgendering me, to which the Karen replied “NO, this GUY is being an asshole.” I swiftly responded with “don’t call me an asshole, bitch.” Because she was being a bitch. I do not regret saying that. I will always stand up for myself when facing hate (4/x)

and transphobia. I was also wearing a #BlackLivesMatter mask, as I do everyday. Three more guests then came up and surrounded me for protection as the Karen’s demeanor became physically exaggerated. It wasn’t until this point that my other team members and eventually (5/x)

security stepped in. I was honest with management about the incident, admitting to calling that bitch a bitch - and my management agreed that she was being a huge bitch. I was told there would be some repercussions for my language, but that I would be fine because I’m great (6/x)

at my job. This was not the case. Today I was terminated because this awful woman has caused such a fuss and that fuss was not met with a defense for my safety and situation. I was told that they needed to distance me in case she wants to come in again, but that I could (6/x)

to another Target if I wanted to. I do not want to. I do not want to work for a company that will not protect trans people. I do not want to work for a company that will allow bigots to have the upper hand. I do not want to work for a company that will not defend their (8/x)

employees when they are put at risk. I took the job at @Target because I thought it would be a safe space. Today I learned that is not true. I am hurting, but I am strong. I will get fired from every job in this country if it means I’m standing up for myself. I will not (9/x)

allow people to disvalue me, my identity, my community, or my values. I will actively work to protect people from hate and this pandemic until I end up on the streets because I can’t pay my bills. This is not okay, and I will not step back and take it. Thread over. (10/10)

Also my Venmo is @jaeweit if you want to help with my bills while I find a new job.