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Original poster

It's an IWD one

65 replies

sankacoolrunnings · 13/02/2025 16:28

So a member of my team is organising an International Women's Day event. It's a public event. It has selected women involved as a panel type thing.I found out today one of the women is a trans woman. I asked do the other women know and it may make them uncomfortable / they may not have wished to participate. I was told "they shouldn't even have those thoughts and I will tell them!"

Speechless. We are policing thoughts now it seems.

We are captured as an organisation though so I can't really do anything. If I say any more than this I will be the one in trouble when actually I am looking at this from a reputation point of view and damage it could do. FFS.

OP posts:
Original poster
sankacoolrunnings · 13/02/2025 19:46

Male

OP posts:
myplace · 13/02/2025 19:45

Is the organiser male or female?
Can future years involve suggestions are made and the candidates shortlisted in discussion?

Original poster
sankacoolrunnings · 13/02/2025 19:43

The person has complained about me for asking the question do the groups know about each other.

OP posts:
MissScarletInTheBallroom · 13/02/2025 19:21

I would be really tempted to say that talking about what thoughts women are or aren't allowed to have about what a woman is, isn't really in the spirit of international women's day.

It's international women's day, not international women with the correct political opinions day.

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 13/02/2025 19:19

myplace · 13/02/2025 19:08

What about inviting the trans speaker on a different diversity day, and saving Women’s Day for less controversial choices?

This is a good idea.

myplace · 13/02/2025 19:08

What about inviting the trans speaker on a different diversity day, and saving Women’s Day for less controversial choices?

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 13/02/2025 19:06

When you say a member of your team, do you mean a peer or someone who reports to you?

I'd probably frame it in terms of reputational damage. Point out that organisations who have very publicly platformed trans women on the one day of the year dedicated to women (compared to Pride month and all the other random days and months of the year for trans awareness) have had their arses handed to them on a platter.

Original poster
sankacoolrunnings · 13/02/2025 18:30

@IwantToRetire no idea and if they were they would ignore.

Not public sector ironically far from it - and an old fashioned industry that has latched on to this to be progressive. Totally captured.

OP posts:
AlisonDonut · 13/02/2025 17:53

You are their manager. I'd take them off this arrangement and give them a special hard work project to be getting on with.

And I'd be speaking to my manager about getting rid of affinity groups and these sorts of things and get people getting on with their jobs in future.

IwantToRetire · 13/02/2025 17:48

sankacoolrunnings · 13/02/2025 17:18

I am opting out going forward.

I have something else in writing that does cover me if it goes to shit but I'm starting to think could I be in trouble for even raising it?

It's all so batshit these days. I raised it because of other issues eg gender pay gap etc coming up and the fact we have self identified feminists alongside a trans and I gently pointed out they don't always get on but then the thought police told me they couldn't have those thoughts.

Is you area of work covered by any of the recent SEEN networks that have been set up.

And aren't they aware that following the Forstater case employers have to give equal acceptance of GC employees as trans employees?

Original poster
sankacoolrunnings · 13/02/2025 17:18

I am opting out going forward.

I have something else in writing that does cover me if it goes to shit but I'm starting to think could I be in trouble for even raising it?

It's all so batshit these days. I raised it because of other issues eg gender pay gap etc coming up and the fact we have self identified feminists alongside a trans and I gently pointed out they don't always get on but then the thought police told me they couldn't have those thoughts.

OP posts:
IwantToRetire · 13/02/2025 17:14

sankacoolrunnings · 13/02/2025 16:37

Thank you.

What really P's me off is it will be me who has to clear up the mess if it does go to shit.

I am sorry you are having to deal with this.

I dont know the full set up, but if as you say you will be left to clear up the mess, is it worth you putting into writing your concerns, stressing the reputational issue? And also the point about were the other speaker consulted?

But on the other hand, if you like (need) your job cant you just opt out. It is just a one off event.

Then you can pick a time when you think it is worth having a confrontation.

Enough4me · 13/02/2025 16:50

Just saw the Fife case is going to drag on for months more (I think the hospital messed up declaring information).
If it goes ahead and you're on clear up at least you can say that it needs to not happen again, and that the general consensus favours women being invited to women's panels.
I think more of the believers won't start to reflect until they understand how many are sick of this nonsense.

Original poster
sankacoolrunnings · 13/02/2025 16:37

Thank you.

What really P's me off is it will be me who has to clear up the mess if it does go to shit.

OP posts:
Enough4me · 13/02/2025 16:32

You are right to always put your safety first.
Yes it's 100% wrong, but unless you are in a financially stable position, I'd be careful.
Hopefully Sandie wins the Fife case and it could be used as an example of the general public opinion is that women are biological women (not the pretend ones).