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Original poster

Pulled up at work for ‘trans views’

488 replies

wherearethemarsbars · 01/05/2025 08:45

Recently, a colleague at my company has declared that they are ‘agender’ and asexual and has asked to be addressed as ‘they’. As a result, my company decided to arrange a trans training session where some trans people came in to talk to us all about gender and terminology etc etc.

During this session, I was asked to describe my experience of living as a ‘cis woman’. I said that I didn’t have any experience of living as a cis woman, only as a woman so I couldn’t comment. I was pressed further and didn’t say much, only that the term ‘cis woman’ doesn’t align with my personal beliefs of what a woman is, so therefore declined to comment any further.

A few days later, I was pulled up on this by management who said that my behaviour was not acceptable and that I should be making an effort to be inclusive to everyone. I’m a bit baffled. Can I get others’ thoughts on this topic?

OP posts:
tellmewhenthespaceshiplandscoz · 01/05/2025 08:55

LadyBracknellsHandbagg · 01/05/2025 08:51

That’s not the point is it? The recent SC ruling knocks this compelled speech nonsense out of the park. Respect works both ways, no woman has to acquiesce to being called ‘cis’.

Show quote history

This

GCAcademic · 01/05/2025 08:55

Ask them why you aren't allowed to define yourself as you wish and why they believe your identity isn't valid. Why aren't they, as an employer, inclusive to you, as someone whose rights on the basis of sex, in the Equality Act 2010, have just been clarified unambiguously in the Supreme Court?

And point them to the outcome of Maya Forstater's employment tribunal.

CallIpswichNow · 01/05/2025 08:55

Puttinginthemiles · 01/05/2025 08:54

I'd ask them to put their concerns in writing to me. That would be very interesting.

This (edit: sorry, I know ‘This’ posts are annoying! But it’s a simple way of making them pause to hopefully realise they’re out of line legally)

SmoothOperatorCarlosSainz · 01/05/2025 08:54

I hate the term cis. I would be asking my boss why my beliefs that I am a woman and not a cis woman isn't being inclusive? It's not as if you are denying or have said anything bad about trans people. This cis word needs to bugger off.

Balloonhearts · 01/05/2025 08:54

Tell them the term cis is offensive to many women and they have an obligation to respect your beliefs in exactly the same way as they respect X's personal beliefs. Then direct them to the Supreme Court judgement and point out that your personal beliefs align with the law and any disciplinary actions on their part would be unlikely to stand up in an employment tribunal.

Then I'd fuck them off and find another job where women aren't treated as second class citizens.

Puttinginthemiles · 01/05/2025 08:54

I'd ask them to put their concerns in writing to me. That would be very interesting.

JazzyBBBG · 01/05/2025 08:53

You didn't do anything wrong. I had similar for questioning why a trans woman was on our IWD panel. Someone more educated than me will be along to advise but ultimately the law is on your side.

RunningJo · 01/05/2025 08:53

I can’t see what you said was wrong, I would have said the same.

Shortshriftandlethal · 01/05/2025 08:52

LadyBracknellsHandbagg · 01/05/2025 08:51

That’s not the point is it? The recent SC ruling knocks this compelled speech nonsense out of the park. Respect works both ways, no woman has to acquiesce to being called ‘cis’.

Show quote history

No, but if that remains the coercive, shaming atmosphere at work it might become intolerable to remain.

FOJN · 01/05/2025 08:52

You didn't make any remarks about "trans". You were asked questions about your own experience, I can't see what you did wrong. I'm sure the Forstater judgement puts your employers in the wrong here.

LadyBracknellsHandbagg · 01/05/2025 08:51

PriOn1 · 01/05/2025 08:48

How much do you like your job?

How easy would it be to get another?

That’s not the point is it? The recent SC ruling knocks this compelled speech nonsense out of the park. Respect works both ways, no woman has to acquiesce to being called ‘cis’.

ScarlettSunset · 01/05/2025 08:49

I honestly don't think you did anything wrong by refusing to accept being referred to as a cis woman. I would find the term offensive myself.

Unfortunately though, I think it will take some time still before all of this type of mangling of the language ends.

PriOn1 · 01/05/2025 08:48

How much do you like your job?

How easy would it be to get another?