A consultation guide for feminist and LGBTQ+ academics and allies circulated at my workplace

I would go to your Head of Department about this to be honest.

I would ask why it is that a particular group in the University is being allowed to distribute material through official channels?

Fine if they want to leaflet in the toilets like you did but going through the formal University email system is not on. There's an open debate and consultation so why is one perspective being allowed to be prompted through this very official channel and not others?

You'd out yourself as a TERF but if you're happy with that then that's what I would do.

And obviously employees should be looking at facts, information and evidence before they make their own minds up as to how to fill in a government consultation. No work place should be pressuring employees to follow a specific political view by circulating a request like this, or requesting to vote in a particular way, that's an outrageous thing to do - HR should be looking into this - and certainly not on nothing more than hearsay.

Are they going to implore employees to vote Green at the next election? Did they try to swing Brexit?

The university where I work has also been very pro LGBTQ+ (emphasis on the TQ currently), but on an individual level I've found many people (as anywhere) are willing to listen to and consider reasonable questions. Academics don't like being told what they should think even if they don't always speak out when they ought to.

Could you forward it to A Woman's Place UK or Fair Play for Women who have a meeting at the House of Commons tomorrow? Or to someone like James Kirkup who has written about how even Ministers are afraid to speak out about this?

It sounds like there are some very dubious assertions in that guide and it would be good to see them get an airing.

It talks about anti trans groups with significant funding claiming to be feminists with powerful voices in the media.

I’d reply asking who these groups are. If they respond naming WPUK or FPFW they both have statements to refer to about funding etc I believe that you could send back.

Not specifically outing yourself as GC, just questioning the claims/allegations they’re making.

Ask for proof of those supposedly fake feminist groups and funding streams - these can easily be found re TRA funding, where's the evidence for this? Which groups define as 'anti trans' - if they're slurring FPFW and WP then obviously their mission statements are very clear, minutes have been videoed and minuted, it's all there to be checked before slander/libel is accidentally committed with all the legal risks involved?

Which powerful voices in the media? And in comparison to what balance exactly?

Obviously important to do due diligence before making a complete fool of the organisation by spreading fake news and encouraging employees to act on it.

Complete the consultation giving your own views. The FairPlayForWomen site has an already completed form if going through the actual thing is too arduous. Do not let other people tell you what you think! We're not living in a Stalinist state yet.

As far as I know, none of the groups I'm familiar with and support have "significant funding", it's grass-roots contribs from women like you and me. Pay no attention their propaganda as it's a reverse. Trans groups and Stonewall are the ones with the significant funding

I don't think there's much you can do without bringing down their fascistic ire.

I guess mentioning in passing to colleagues that you've seen support for discussion on this issue from many women on a grass roots level .... might be a way forward. Tackling their bullshit without getting you burned as a witch.