Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Feminism: chat

Original poster

My employer has invited Susie Green for a transgender inclusion event

110 replies

cornflakegirl · 01/11/2018 11:00

We have a new Head of Diversity. He has invited Susie Green for a panel event at my office. The new "transitioning at work" policy will also be launched the same day. We're also partnering with Stonewall, so I can imagine what the policy is likely to say.

I'm willing to stand up as GC at work, but I also need to keep my job, so need to do it calmly and respectfully. Any advice on how to approach this?

OP posts:
Blanketbox · 01/11/2018 12:05

I would avoid any discussion of SGs personal situation. Just go to the event and question anything in the guidance or policy that doesn’t seem right, eg unisex toilets; policing of beliefs. Ensure that the policy wording includes ‘sex’ not ‘gender’.

9toenails · 01/11/2018 11:58

If you have opportunity, you might ask Ms Green what her (then) son thought a girl was (or, equivalently what 'girl ' meant to him), and ask whether her (now) daughter thinks the same.

You could politely frame these questions in terms of what sort of expressed thoughts we might watch out for in our own children, perhaps regarding stereotypical/non-stereotypical toys, dress, hair length, whatever?

A follow-up - whatever answer she gives - could be to question how far similar such thoughts in your own child might justify you having your child's body surgically altered.

I am sure this could all be done calmly and respectfully; with neutral intent, as it were.

nauticant · 01/11/2018 11:57

Gosh, that's not straightforward. You can go and keep your gob shut. Go along and say something that can be framed as a "personal attack" so so easily. Or just avoid it.

About the only question that comes to my mind is something along the lines about guidelines for puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, surgery setting age limits in the UK and what she thinks of those and whether she feels they should be relaxed.

Or dig out one of her more inflammatory comments and ask her to justify it.

Original poster
cornflakegirl · 01/11/2018 11:44

Yet - don't know yet, not issued. I don't have to go to the event, but I feel like I should.

Angry, Fission - tempting, but see above points on calm and respectful ;)

Arran - thank you, will think about that. Don't think that the changes are a gotcha, but might be a way to open up the conversation.
Don't feel that I can ask to see the policy before launch. Never met the new Head of Diversity, although other women I respect have said he's good.

Gncq - will protest that if they do, as our toilets are not individual ones at any of our sites.

OP posts:
Gncq · 01/11/2018 11:21

Ask if they're going to change all toilets in the building to "mixed sex"?

arranfan · 01/11/2018 11:08

Is it plausible for you to say that you're aware that EHRC guidance on the EqA 2010 was flawed and only recently corrected on 5 Oct. - is the director confident that both SG and Stonewall have updated their information and guidance to reflect those corrections?

Will you have sight of the policy before it's launched or is it a done deal?

FissionChips · 01/11/2018 11:04

I’d print out some leaflets with facts about what she did to her child on them, then stick them all over the place.

Angryresister · 01/11/2018 11:03

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

BeUpStanding · 01/11/2018 11:03

Blimey... Not sure if I can offer much practical advice, but I respect and admire your commitment to stand up for what's right. Good luck!

YetAnotherSpartacus · 01/11/2018 11:02

What does the policy say? That might be critical to whether you can stand up for yourself or quietly develop something horribly contagious that means you can't be there that day ...

Swipe left for the next trending thread