Raleigh Business World in UPROAR Over Shop Local Raleigh Director’s Alleged Anonymous Comment
RALEIGH, N.C. – A Facebook comment inside a Raleigh-area women’s networking group has exploded into a full-blown community controversy—now putting the executive director of one of the Triangle’s most influential business organizations squarely in the hot seat.
GiGi Stephens, an administrator of the local Facebook group Networking Women of the Triangle, outed Jennifer Martin, the longtime executive director of Shop Local Raleigh, after Martin allegedly made an anonymous comment about a mother’s transgender child that many members found offensive.
The drama started on December 20, when a Wake County mother posted in the group seeking guidance about her child’s participation in school sports.
The mother wrote that she has a “transgender son”—a child assigned female at birth who is transitioning to male—and asked whether he would be allowed to try out for a boys’ team in an after-school program.
“No locker rooms involved. Does anyone know (or know who I can ask) if he would be allowed to join a boys team?” the mother posted.
She went on to explain that her child had been living as male for several years.
“Been transitioning and living as a male for almost 3 years. Makes no sense for him to play on the girls team.”
According to Stephens, that post triggered an anonymous comment that was reported to the group for review. The comment allegedly read:
“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.”
When Stephens accessed the admin panel and saw who allegedly made it, she says she felt the public deserved to know.
Stephens reportedly said it was “something that the community deserves to know”, emphasizing that “they’re spending money with this organization.”
Jennifer Martin has served as executive director of the Greater Raleigh Merchants Association, which operates as Shop Local Raleigh, since 2010. Under her leadership, the organization has become a major player in the city’s business and cultural scene, producing large-scale events such as Falling for Local at Dix Park, the Raleigh Food Truck Rodeo Series, the Raleigh Christmas Parade, and the annual Brewgaloo craft beer festival.
Now, backlash is growing.
Following the revelation, some local residents and business owners began publicly pulling their support. By Monday afternoon, the organization addressed the situation.
In a statement posted to its Facebook page, Shop Local Raleigh acknowledged the controversy, saying it was aware of concerns surrounding “a recent personal, social media comment made by our Executive Director.”
The statement added that the board is reviewing the matter and stressed that the comment “does not reflect those of the organization.”
As of now, no resignation has been announced—but the pressure is mounting, and Raleigh’s business community is watching closely to see what happens next.
