According to our newsgathering partners at the News and Observer, Executive Director Jennifer Martin wrote a comment saying in part, "there's no such thing as a transgender son" in the Facebook group Networking Women of the Triangle.
Martin was responding to a parent seeking advice about their child. The parent, who posted anonymously, said their child is a girl who has been living as a boy for nearly three years and wanted to play in an after-school volleyball program for boys.
A member responded anonymously, saying, "There's no such thing as a transgender son. Blessings to you, but the sooner you help your son realize this, the more successful he (maybe a she) will be,"
Though the response was made anonymously, the Facebook group's admins were able to see who posted it, and it was attributed to Martin.
Shop Local Raleigh released a statement on Monday that says in part:
"The comment made does not reflect those of the organization. Shop Local Raleigh is dedicated to a culture of diversity, inclusion, and respect."
Since then, some businesses that are members of Shop Local Raleigh have called on Martin to be held accountable. An online petition has garnered more than 800 signatures.
Erica Vogel, who owns Be Like Missy, a boutique in Zebulon, said Monday that her business would no longer affiliate with Shop Local Raleigh.
"Shop Local Raleigh states that their mission is to support and uplift, and be sort of a home for our local small businesses, and I feel like what she did was not inclusive of our community, and it just really rubbed me the wrong way," Vogel said.
Shop Local Raleigh is a nonprofit organization that promotes small businesses. ABC11 has reached out to Martin but has not heard back.
ABC11 is a media partner for the Raleigh Christmas Parade presented by Shop Local Raleigh.
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