I’m currently doing freelance work for a woman who is high up in a very woke industry, shall we say (like publishing). It’s a big project and I expect to be working with her for some time. Things have been good, except lately she has started trying to engage me in conversation about trans stuff. Her and her company are completely on board with everything trans (they are stonewall trained).
The problem is she keeps ranting at me about “terfs” and “transphobes”. I’ve listened to her rant about Julie bindel, KJK, and dozens of other women. This makes me feel uncomfortable because I’m gender critical and I get the very strong impression that if she found this out for sure she would fire me.
Recently she’s started asking me questions and the aim is to find out where I stand on these things. When she rants I just go completely silent and change the subject , but it’s harder when she asks me something directly.
For instance, she said the other day she felt really sorry for a trans celebrity (ironically she called him “he” even though they are a trans woman). She turned to me and said “what do you think about him?” I have extremely strong opinions about this individual, none of which she would want to hear ! So I just kept quiet and said “hmm I don’t really know”.
I think she’s beginning to notice that I shut down around these conversations and get extremely awkward. I obviously don’t mind that she’s a TRA - that’s her business. But I don’t think I should be drawn into these kinds of conversations, especially when a) it’s not relevant to the work we are doing and b) our relationship will significantly sour if I come out as one of those dreaded “terfs”.
Any advice on what I should do? I’m considering just saying to her “you know I don’t know very much about this topic at all, I try to keep out of it” next time she brings it up.