Retail giant Target thought it would be welcoming more customers when it decided last week to promote "inclusive" bathrooms, which would allow people to use store bathrooms based on their gender preference.

However, the company's plan appeared to have backfired since it is now at risk of losing at least one million customers who no longer feel safe using their facilities.

The American Family Association (AFA), a conservative Christian advocacy group, started a petition urging people to boycott Target until it changes its bathroom policy, saying the retailer's decision actually "endangers women and children by allowing men to frequent women's facilities."

Nearly one million individuals have already signed the petition as of Thursday, and it is expected that the numbers would breach the million-mark before weekend.

"American families are concerned about their wives and daughters being harmed by predators or voyeurs who will now have more freedom to enter women's bathrooms," AFA president Tim Wildmon told Life Site News.

"There are many more sex offenders in America than transgender people, so we believe that Target should keep separate facilities for men and women, but for the transgender community and for those who simply like using the bathroom alone, a single occupancy unisex option should be provided, as AFA has proposed," he added.

Target earlier said in a statement that the company stands for equality and equity, and this is why it strives to make its guests and team members feel accepted, respected and welcomed.

"In our stores, we demonstrate our commitment to an inclusive experience in many ways. Most relevant for the conversations currently underway, we welcome transgender team members and guests to use the restroom or fitting room facility that corresponds with their gender identity," the company said.

Target further said it supports the federal Equality Act, which provides protections to members of the LGBT community and opposes anything that would discriminate against them.