Work DEI response: single-sex toilets

Not necessarily. It shows that they know that Muslims consider transwomen to be men (sex). I imagine they think Muslims are bigots, but are prepared to compromise a little to try to avoid a religious or race discrimination claim.

No, sadly they specifically say that transwomen using women's toilets means that they are still single-sex.

Most people would therefore conclude that their position is that sex and gender are the same thing. If it were me, and I wanted to not leave this alone, I would simply ask them to confirm this point.

No, sadly they specifically say that transwomen using women's toilets means that they are still single-sex.

This makes no sense, you can’t be a trans woman unless you are male.

Exactly! If they really thought TWAW there would be no need to move them. The fact they say they will shows they know TW are men

They've admitted they know the toilets are mixed sex by moving the mirrors.

Such a good point, it's been eid for 2 days and literally nothing. It's probably the most important Islamic celebration and yet our society pushes pride month or fathers day only.

Excellent strategising, @ToriaB
When you get your new job sorted, why not report your ex-employers to the EHRC? They have a confidential whistleblower process and your emails would be great evidence of direct and indirect sex/religious discrimination, affecting a significant number of women. You would not be outed to your old employer and it might mean that the EHRC (which seems to be back on the right path under Baroness Falkner) might intervene and force them to comply with the law.

I've just read through all your posts on this thread, ToriaB, and am in a state of awe at your persistence and excellently-written emails, and rage at their idiocy and attempts to bully you. How dare they?
I hope everything works out for you, and that you find a job where you don’t have to put up with arseholes like these.

@ToriaB very sensible, good luck with the applications.

@ToriaB I've been following you thread and something has occurred to me from their latest email. They say single sex toilets are available in every building. Could it be that there is some provision somewhere in each building and they are being deliberately obtuse in not stating the majority are mixed but there some has been retain for those who want it. Obviously not good enough but perhaps they are deliberately being arses and know exactly what they are doing.

@ToriaB I know I advised you to retreat but I would be tempted to send three links:

• Maya Forstater - https://www.forstater.com/discrimination-costs/
• Denise Fahmy - https://didlaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Fahmy-judgment-2.pdf
• Essex School girls - https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/06/28/essex-schoolgirls-sexually-assaulted-gender-neutral-toilets/

(bloody shit grammar on that response as well)

Have you approached Sex Matters @ToriaB ? They may be able to advise you - they must get so many women contacting them in a very similar situation and Maya (and the SM lawyers presumably) will be able to advise on the best way forward. Also, it is a personal decision in terms of how much risk you can face because the risks to women who speak up are not insignificant.

Thank you for everything you have done. The attempted bullying and silencing tactics you are being subject to for reasonable questions is really upsetting to read.

If I were you, I'd keep a record of everything and contact Sex Matters.

Universities have a lot of culpability for the sterilisation of children and dismantling of safeguarding and I'm at the point where I actually want a lot of humanity subjects to be de-funded and more funding to go to actual, experimental, fact-based science and medicine departments instead. Queer theory has caused so much harm to children.

I agree with this too. It's very easy for other posters online, with the best of intentions, to encourage you to escalate.

Whilst I am endlessly grateful to those women who have taken this fight to the top, it's so important that that's a decision carefully considered - both in terms of whether it's at all winnable, and in terms of the enormous personal cost.

@ToriaB I agree with pp, the threat in the last paragraph is clear. They have dug in their position and it will take something seismic to shift them.

Sometimes you need to know when to retreat and think of alternate ways to achieve the long term goal.

There will be further developments in this area such as Jo Phoenix’s ET, the outcome of Maya’s compensation, the guidance for schools, the LGBA/Mermaids judgement, the For Women Scotland case etc.

These may provide an opportunity to raise the issue again, pointing out the reputational risk of their policy. Keep a timeline with evidence, this will allow you to clearly demonstrate they were fully aware of the implications of their decision.

There is the Free Speech Union, although not a Trade Union, might be able to supply a rep?

I’d suggest caution too. The last Feminist meeting I went to highlighted that it’s better to keep your job than have to fight through the courts. Is it bullying? I’d say so.

Just to sound a note of caution here, OP, please don't risk your job and livelihood. I read that email as threatening, whether politely or not. I think if you go any further with this, your time at this institution will come to an end.

You are completely right and it must be hard to "give up" but can you afford to lose your job and if blacklisted, future jobs? Only you can decide - I would take some time to think about what you want before making another move. Good luck!

Is there anyone you could take with you, OP?

Or Naomi Cunningham. She would be ace. Or Ben Cooper!

It would be bloody great if you could take Maya with you 😍

At what point will they allow you to be accompanied to a meeting? And by whom? If not by a solicitor, then would it have to be a work colleague, or could it be a friend or relative? It would help if you could take someone who understands this stuff and who can take a near-verbatim note of what's said. You might also consider recording the meeting.
You could consider bringing a formal grievance, on the basis that they are lying to / gaslighting you? Personally, I'd find it very difficult to work for people who did that to me. It might arguably be a breach of trust and confidence, leading to a possible constructive dismissal / potentially a discrimination claim. Are you able to get legal advice? An opinion from a specialist barrister might be the right way to go, and no doubt Sex Matters could recommend someone. Maybe you could crowdfund for that, and it shouldn't be too expensive just for a one-off piece of legal advice at this stage. Obviously though, you will be thinking about your personal position here. That is probably what they are counting on.
🐈I hope you have one of these to stroke - important to try to de-stress.