Oxford, Alabama (The Adobo Chronicles, Washington Bureau) – A small Alabama city has passed an ordinance making it illegal for transgender people to use public restrooms that don’t correspond to the biological sex listed on their birth certificate.

Oxford Council President Steven Waits said the ordinance, passed Tuesday, is in response to Target’s new restroom policy. The retail giant announced last week that it will allow transgender people to use its restrooms corresponding to the gender with which they identify. Target has one store in Oxford.

Violations would be considered as a misdemeanor in Oxford, according to reports, with penalties ranging from a $500 fine to six months in jail.

The Oxford law follows weeks of controversy over a law in North Carolina mandating that transgender people use public restrooms that correspond with their biological sex at birth.

When queried by The Adobo Chronicles  on the potential impact of the new law on Oxford’s economy, Waits said that it will essentially bring the city’s unemployment rate from 7% to 0%. Oxford’s current unemployment is higher than the national unemployment rate in the entire U.S.

“With the new law, all government buildings and private businesses will have to employ new security personnel to guard their bathrooms to make sure they are used correctly, gender-wise. Think of all the unemployed people in Oxford who will find jobs as a result,” Waits said.

When the new law takes into full effect, public bathrooms users must be always ready to show their birth certificate to the security guards before being allowed inside.