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Original poster

Uni misrepresenting Equality Act

26 replies

Tweddle · 05/10/2023 12:46

I recently started university as a mature student and was asked to complete some diversity and inclusion training online.

As I suspected it would be, they completely misrepresented the Equality Act, quoting the protected characteristics of gender instead of sex and gender identity instead of gender assignment.

It also talks about making sure all students feel accepted and safe but this training makes me feel anything but safe due to my gender critical beliefs.

I really wanted to address this with them and I think I will send an email. Can anyone give me any pointers? I know my belief is protected because of Maya Forstater and I really want to get that across so that they know they are not legally able to penalise me because I don’t believe in gender.

I’m quite nervous but I think this is too important to ignore.

OP posts:
Beowulfa · 05/10/2023 13:14

I work in a university and had the same response to the EDI training.

I sent a succinct, polite email to the EDI general queries email with a link to the Equality Act pointing out that the training materials incorrectly quoted UK law and when would this be amended please? I also asked if this had been provided by a third party, and commented that I'd found some of the "home-made" training courses (on safety) very good so perhaps we could produce the EDI in-house too. I then escalated it to the Head of EDI when I got a dismissive response from a they/them.

I would send the same kind of query if any of the other mandatory training (ie on RIDDOR, COSSH or GDP) was legally inaccurate.

I now feel justified in refusing to do any further mandatory training, as it's a waste of my time if it turns out to be made-up guff the employer has bought without checking.