Is anyone else boycotting Tesco's for giving £80,000 to Mermaids?

[loveyouradvice]

Just that really... I was shocked, especially given all the news coverage there has been about the issues recently. I would have expected them to give it to an uncontroversial charity at the very least - and ideally one that most of their customers would like to support

@CluelessBaker

I don’t shop at Tesco but I do support Mermaids, so maybe I’ll switch loyalties to make up for one of the boycotters.

What is it you like about the work that Mermaids does with children?

Genuinely interested. I can’t imagine any parent actively supporting them so it would be good to know if there’s something about them I’ve missed.

@SeasonFinale

Yet another thread feeding into the negative press that all mumsnetters are anti trans when the reality is it's a vocal minority.

No, not anti-trans but definitely pro-safeguarding of children.

I didn’t know what Mermaids was, but from googling all I can see is that they provide educational and emotional support for children with gender issues? How is that so bad?

I think if we look to boycott all companies who support charities we disagree with or are not ethical we wouldn’t shop anywhere! It’ll not make any difference to them but massively inconvenience you if you rely on them

I also don't support Mermaids

Why do these large stores feel the need to support these weird organisations before they actually investigate their aims?

I didn't know that. I'll def be boycotting now, along with Starbucks.

@FamilyOfAliens and yet, many families do support them. It can’t be too hard for you to imagine that some people don’t share your views, if you try very hard.

Ok ill bite
Clueless, why do you support Mermaids, not attacking you just asking

[quote CluelessBaker]@FamilyOfAliens and yet, many families do support them. It can’t be too hard for you to imagine that some people don’t share your views, if you try very hard.[/quote]
This isn’t about my views. I asked you if you could explain what it is about their work with children that you like so much you actively support them.

Fine if you don’t want to answer.

And please don’t @ me - I’m on the thread.

The problem with mermaids is the type of support they provide to children with gender issues, with many feeling that they are a bit too keen to promote sex change hormones and surgery to children, whilst others know , having grown up now, that gender issues especially fro girls often resolve by the time they reach womanhood

@ TheGreatWave the boycotters.

I do not support mermaids. This group really frightens me.

@Thesuzle and FamilyOfAliens - I don’t want to answer because I know from experience that there is no point in discussing trans issues on Mumsnet. You don’t really want to listen to me - you want to argue with me. I understand it’s likely an issue you feel passionate about and I respect that you have your own opinions on the matter. I simply have zero desire to put time and emotional labour into having a debate which we can all truthfully acknowledge will achieve nothing and go nowhere.

Suffice it to say that I do support the work done by Mermaids, as do many people. It’s absolutely fine if you don’t, nobody is making you. It’s also fine if you want to boycott Tesco over this - that’s your choice too. My views are different, and I am comfortable with how I feel on this issue.

Yes, I am too.

For anyone who doesn't really understand what's wrong with Mermaids, I thought this was good.

*I'd think the majority of their customers do support Mermaids - I think you're probably in the minority.

People who know nothing about Mermaids probably think it sounds nice. As soon as they find out a bit about it, they're shocked. Tesco should have done a bit of reading before handing money over to this organisation; it doesn't take much time to find out what they do if you read beyond their own publicity.

If support were all they were doing, I would completely be in favour of Mermaids. However it looks like it's gone quite toxic in the last few years and they are pushing their own agenda rather than just providing support.

Here's a good article which summarises some of the concerns quite well:
www.spiked-online.com/2020/07/03/mermaids-leading-children-up-the-trans-path/

No. I have no idea what mermaids even is.

I'm not going to stop shopping there because its round the corner from my house and is the most convenient. If I drive to a supermarket further away then wont I be contributing more pollution to the environment? Seems to me that every choice we make can have unethical consequences if you look closely enough!

[quote CluelessBaker]@Thesuzle and FamilyOfAliens - I don’t want to answer because I know from experience that there is no point in discussing trans issues on Mumsnet. You don’t really want to listen to me - you want to argue with me. I understand it’s likely an issue you feel passionate about and I respect that you have your own opinions on the matter. I simply have zero desire to put time and emotional labour into having a debate which we can all truthfully acknowledge will achieve nothing and go nowhere.

Suffice it to say that I do support the work done by Mermaids, as do many people. It’s absolutely fine if you don’t, nobody is making you. It’s also fine if you want to boycott Tesco over this - that’s your choice too. My views are different, and I am comfortable with how I feel on this issue.[/quote]
So if you support “work done by Mermaids” but refuse to say what that work is that you support, why post on this thread at all?

Great any company that gives much needed support to families with trans kids gets my vote.

I think some need to look on the actual Mermaids site for facts instead of scaremongering witch hunt articles. The NHS site actually directs you to Mermaids as one of the nationwide trans supporting charities.

OP, this topic was done a few days ago.

There is info here about how to complain to Tesco.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3956607-Tesco-has-fallen

mermaidsuk.org.uk/

There you go.

Support, guidance and advice. Not hard to look yourself.

Boycott after you have checked how much of Tesco is in your pension scheme.

For every boycotter there will be a new supporter.

Just because something is seen as good, just because it is a charity does not mean that it is good. Jimmy savile would not have happened were that the case. All the wonderful work he did.....

The more I do my own research , the more concerned I become about mermaids

I didn’t know what Mermaids was, but from googling all I can see is that they provide educational and emotional support for children with gender issues? How is that so bad?

Good point, Chewy85. That does look harmless, unless you knew to look further. Their "educational and emotional support for children with gender issues" may make your hair stand on end!

Encouraging children to believe they are "born in the wrong body", supporting their use of cancer drugs to prevent puberty, training teachers to keep the child's distress secret from their parents .... Safeguarding doesn't get a look in.

I recommend reading
www.spiked-online.com/2020/07/03/mermaids-leading-children-up-the-trans-path/
and
www.transgendertrend.com -- this is an organisation that actually does support children with gender issues, and the parents who are trying to help their children through a troubling time.