I objected to gender ideology at work and now need support

Thanks for speaking up!

My advice is to keep it factual, not emotional.

Wishing you success, OP.

Well done OP! It seems to me that the issues are particularly relevant in criminal justice - mens crimes being recorded as womens, female victims being forced to use their attackers preferred pronouns in court, violent males housed in womens prisons.

Really impressed you're confident in speaking out and also that your employers seem to be listening.
I work for a large charity and HR are really pushing for ppl to use pronouns in our email signatures and also now giving out pronoun badges for ppl to wear. Also have an LGBT committee pushing big on the T. I've complained to HR that our staff survey asked for gender not sex and also commented on the risks around an intranet article encouraging ppl to intervene on a hate crime by putting yourself between victim and perpetrator with no mention of personal risk assessment of whether it's safe to do so. I've also raised with my manager confidentially that a colleague has a link in her email signature titled 'why I use pronouns and you should too' which links to a linked in article by a they them preaching gender ideology.

My manager has just ignored this but I think this is because he's not aware of what's going on and doesn't know what to make of it.

I wish I had some support at work but it feels like everyone has been captured by the gender woo and I'm on my own.

I would agree with notes of caution, especially about the presentation and making yourself the face of something which is, wrongly imo but nevertheless, will be met with negativity. It's something to think about OP.

The other organisation to look into is counterweight
counterweightsupport.com/

Posters on these forums are very on top of latest developments and it is easy to assume everyone is aware of Maya’s EAT and ET. This is not the case, for many they have been drip fed stonewall truth for years/decades.

I would always recommend forwarding copies of both judgements along with Peter Daly’s explanation of why points were dismissed. Advise them that Gender Critical views are now protected beliefs and that the organisations who fail to include this in policies, procedures, training etc. are at risk of discrimination claims. Point out the repetitional damage CDG, GCC and individual employees/barristers as well as Stonewall have suffered for not recognising gender critical beliefs as illustrated by Maya and Alison’s Tribunal hearings.

Great news OP.

I speak put at work on a regular basis and did so at my previous employer too. Both not especially woke businesses so it wasn't that hard to do and also once I did it and had no negative repercussions it became easier. I am in my 50's and fortunate that my employer needs me more than I do them so that's liberating too.

I've just refused to answer an employee 'best companies to work for' survey because the first question asks my gender identity. This gave me the opportunity to raise the issue with my line manager and immediate team (who already know my views and haven't disagreed) as well as my second line manager to whom answer rates on this survey are really important as they're measured on them.

My second line manager immediately had a 30 minute conversation with me about it. He had no idea about the issues and though he came up with the usual tropes he listened and I know it's challenged his thinking. He's even sent me a couple of links to relevant articles he's since seen on his new feed!

I'm about to draft an email to our Head of People who I know pretty well to explain my position to her officially. We're having a coffee catch up next week so no doubt we'll talk about it then too.

I've found people generally have no idea of the implications of 'gender ideology'. It's great to be able to make them think about it and I've never encountered anyone in real life who genuinely doesn't at least start to get it.

Good luck :-)

I think this is wonderful. I also understand the notes of caution that others are giving which come from a place of care. They also underline the culture we are in, in which speech is NOT free. But I wonder whether you can liaise with an organisation like Sex Matters to give a presentation to your region, so it wouldn't be your face associated with the information. I think getting the information out there would be a real balance to a D and I curriculum.

Well done for doing this, but I would also advise caution at first.

I have done similar (raised questions like yours, not made a presentation!) and it has been a very bumpy ride.

Well done. I think there are a fair few of us who want to do something similar! Good luck :)

Congratulations and well done, OP. Lots of good information here. I'd just add a note of caution and make sure you have all your back-up in place before doing a presentation. It's illegal to discriminate against you openly, but enemies can make your life, and job, difficult in many underhanded ways. Do discuss this all fully with Sex Matters and other experts before taking a risk.

It's already good that you have spoken up.

I've gotta say, I agree with this. As much as it's great you are pushing back, I think you need to be strategic with it, or else you may end up having a target on your back.
Instead could you arrange one to one meetings with some managers that you trust or get on well with? Try and get them onside by talking about the Equality Act and recent tribunals etc. get them to see the liability in ploughing ahead with genderwoo without considering the implications for female staff.

You need support to fight this, otherwise you will just be one person who can easily be dismissed.

Well done!

Are you confident that the person putting together this material will actually raise it with more senior staff, or will it conveniently slip their mind?

Honestly OP, I wouldn’t rush to do this. Lots of people on here will say it’s great and push you to do this: very easy to do from behind a screen when there is no comeback on them.

Raising the issues to your management is a good idea, but I think jumping straight in to a massive presentation really puts you out there.. it’s easy to get caught up in the atmosphere of this board but you have to protect yourself first.

WOW OP

Good for you.

Have you heard of Debbie Hayton? A transwomen who is GC. Find her on twitter and then look up some of her writing.

The fact you don't put your head above the parapet will give your words more value.

You are right, and you have the law on your side.

You're not in the CPS by any chance? I've seen some of their material so I could well understand your concern if you worked there.

This was an excellent outcome of speaking out!

👏 well done, it takes courage to speak alternative views. I’m learning to speak my mind, esp on MN, there is a lot of backlash but the more you do it the easier it is to ignore the ignorant ppl.

Well done 👏
I've done it too. Got summoned by our EDI Head for a chat and was nervous (before Maya's judgement) but she was on-side and roped me into a consultation working group to ensure balance.

I’m going to be one of those people right now.

Thank you for doing that!

By speaking up, you will have a positive impact on the women around you and those that follow after you. We need as many people as possible to speak up about this. Thank you.

Well done HotFeetColdFeet.
As an incurable speaker-outer I can promise you that at some point various people will come up and whisper in your ear "thank you for saying that".
Whispering thank you across the ether now.

Well done, op. It shouldn't take courage to state the flippin' obvious but it does, and you have shown courage, so well done.

Sex Matters is a good shout. If you have a ReSisters branch nearby you could contact them for irl support.

Well done for standing up for the rights of others not to have to use compelled speech and to be able to consider ideas freely. You are supporting other people to do this, many of whom may be anxious about going against the zeitgeist.

Now, try to relax. You have raised an issue. It is perfectly reasonable, logical and in line with the thought process of many many people. Don't consider yourself a bad guy here. Try to be business as usual.

If there should be any comeback - your position is now legally supported and you are in good company.

Also celebrate your courage. In a culture in which many won't stand up for the rights of others to speak freely - you did. That is something extraordinary.