A parents’ campaign says it will continue to protest at SuperValu stores because of the supermarket chain’s partnership with the organisation Belong To, which the group says provides inappropriate materials to young people regarding transgenderism.
Three such protests, described as information sharing events, have already been held at SuperValu stores in Blanchardstown and Malahide with the latest taking place in Dunshaughlin in Co Meath on Friday, 31st July.
The Parents Unite initiative organised by the Natural Woman’s Council (NWC) said in an open letter to the leading supermarket chain that it had “become aware that SuperValu has partnered with BelongTo, and we are writing to ask whether appropriate due diligence was carried out before entering into this partnership”.
The NWC asked if SuperValu management reviewed “what BelongTo represents, the organisation’s approach, and the educational resources it provides to schools and young people through initiatives such as Stand Up Awareness Week?”
Requests for comment from Gript to Super Valu and Belong To were not answered.
The NWC said it took issue with BelongTo’s Stand Up Awareness Week Toolkit and the content contained within it pertaining to transgenderism, saying the resource “includes terminology and information relating to topics such as binding, tucking, hormones, top surgery, and bottom surgery. “
“We would ask whether SuperValu was aware of this content and whether it considered the appropriateness of these materials being promoted through programmes aimed at young people,” NWC said.
The resource, viewable here, days that ‘Sex Assigned at Birth’ is “the designation of a person at birth as male or female based on their anatomy (genitalia and/or reproductive organs) or biology” – and that a ‘cisgender’ person is someone “whose gender identity matches the sex they were
assigned at birth.”
It also advises 14-18 year olds that ‘Medical Transition’ is a “process by which trans people use medical means to alter their body to better reflect their gender identity, this can include hormone therapy or surgery. This will be individual for every trans person, not every trans person will medically transition.”
And it says that ‘Gender Affirming Care’ – a care pathway that does not question a desire to change sex and has been criticised for failing to sufficiently explore underlying mental health issues – is “healthcare that holistically attends to trans and non-binary people’s physical, mental, and social healthcare needs and well-being while respectfully affirming their gender identity”.
A Gript report previously showed that the state-funded NGO BelongTo produced a handbook for teachers and youth workers which specifically instructs those professionals to lie to parents/guardians about their children.
In a subsequent presentation to staff of the Revenue section of the Department of Finance, a BelongTo representative made a serious and potentially defamatory claim about Enoch Burke – and he dismissed reporting which showed BeLongTo had been instructing teachers to lie to parents about their children as “far-right groups spreading a lot of misinformation”.
The NWC said that it is “deeply concerned that BelongTo’s approach to these issues conflicts with our understanding of biology, child safeguarding principles, and the growing international discussion regarding the appropriate clinical approach for children and young people experiencing gender-related distress.”
“We believe children deserve compassionate support, careful assessment, and robust safeguarding. We are concerned about approaches that may lead children towards life-altering medical decisions before they are capable of fully understanding the potential long-term implications, including possible impacts on bone health, fertility, and development,” spokeswoman Jana Lunden said.
“We would also ask SuperValu to consider the findings and recommendations of major reviews and reports, including the Cass Review and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) report, which have contributed to ongoing international debate regarding the evidence base, clinical approach, and safeguarding considerations surrounding medical interventions for minors experiencing gender-related distress,” she said.
“We also believe it is important for SuperValu to consider the experiences and concerns raised by individuals who have previously engaged with organisations such as BelongTo. One example is the testimony of a young gay man who has publicly spoken about his personal experience and concerns regarding his involvement with the organisation,” she added.
She said that parents were “astonished and disappointed that our local supermarket has chosen to partner with an organisation whose approach and educational resources have raised serious concerns among many members of the community.”
The NWC said that “a nationwide awareness campaign involving peaceful assemblies outside SuperValu stores across the country” would continue throughout August.
“Our intention is to respectfully engage with customers and management, hold signs, raise awareness, and encourage public discussion about the organisations and resources supported by SuperValu.” she said.
Ms Lunden said “Ahead of this campaign, we would appreciate a formal response from SuperValu management addressing the following questions: Did SuperValu conduct a full review of BelongTo’s educational materials before entering into this partnership? Was SuperValu aware of the content included in the Stand Up Awareness Week Toolkit? What safeguarding assessment was carried out before approving this partnership?”.
She also asked if SuperValu believed this partnership reflects the expectations and concerns of its customers and local communities.
“Children only get one chance at childhood. As adults, parents, communities, and organisations with influence over young people, we have a responsibility to ensure we get this right,” she said.
“The decisions we make today can have lifelong consequences, and children’s wellbeing must remain at the centre of every decision. We look forward to receiving clarification from SuperValu management and understanding the basis on which this partnership was approved,” The NWC spokeswoman said.