H-E-B Exposed for Promoting the Sexualization of Children

This year, a spotlight was turned on Texas’ once beloved H-E-B grocery store chain, as the company was exposed for sponsoring far-left causes.

With more than 400 locations in Texas and Mexico, H-E-B has become a brand many Texans have patronized with pride.

This summer, however, Texas Scorecard reported that the San Antonio-based grocery chain was listed as a sponsor of an LGBT “pride” event in downtown Austin in June. The event, called Rainbow on the Creek, included a drag queen story hour, a “family-friendly, all-ages” drag show performed by a group called the Hydrated Queer Kitties, and a pride parade.

A Libs of TikTok tweet showed the scantily clad performers dancing sensually in front of parents and their children.

After feeling heat from concerned Texans, the grocery chain appeared to backtrack and attempt to whitewash the evidence, retroactively removing their name from a list of the event’s sponsors months after it took place.

Additionally, it was later revealed that H-E-B was sponsoring OutYouth, an Austin-based organization that bills itself as “a safe place for youth of all sexual orientations and gender identities to be themselves.” The group provides so-called “LGBTQIA+” counseling for children as young as 9 years old.

The group’s own materials make it clear that parents are unwelcome at these counseling sessions.

While H-E-B’s forays into the sexualization of children is relatively new, its CEO Charles Butt’s liberal activism has been longstanding. Butt is a major donor to Texas Democrat candidates and a staunch opponent of school choice and educational freedom.

During the most recent election, for example, Butt endorsed Democrat Jay Kleberg for land commissioner.

Butt has also supported Republican candidates this cycle, including Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan, State Rep. Glenn Rogers, and Comptroller Glenn Hegar (who received a combined total of $120,000).

One of Mr. Butt’s influential anti-school choice operations comes in the form of The Charles Butt Public Education Political Action Committee, which has made donations to 22 political campaigns that oppose school choice. The PAC has received $750,000 in contributions from Butt.

Butt has also heavily funded the Raise Your Hand Texas organization, which opposes school choice and advocates for spending more tax money on the current public system, as well as The Charles Butt Foundation, which also opposes school choice.

Brandon Waltens

Brandon serves as the Senior Editor for Texas Scorecard. After managing successful campaigns for top conservative legislators and serving as a Chief of Staff in the Texas Capitol, Brandon moved outside the dome in order to shine a spotlight on conservative victories and establishment corruption in Austin. @bwaltens