Is this discrimination?

[AngelsWithSilverWings]

Firstly I truly believe that the following is discrimination but want to know if it would be enough evidence to remove someone from their position on a committee for breaching an organisation's code of conduct.

The scenario is:

Local interest group with 50 members and a committee of 7 who are responsible for arranging events and speakers.

One of the commitee likes to be centre of attention and is constantly announcing that they want to have a turn at giving a talk on a subject.

Recently this person sent a message to the rest of the committee saying that they wanted to arrange a talk about a cultural celebration that is unique to a particular minority group.

They then stated that they didn't want to hire a speaker from that particular minority group because "no one would be able to understand what they were saying" and that they were planning to research the topic and present the talk.

The interest group has a national code of conduct that clearly states they have a zero tolerance policy on discrimination.

So my question is - would you agree that this could be grounds to remove the committee member.

Thanks for reading. I have changed some detail so as not to be outing as I know some members of our group are on here.

I have my own issues with this committee member and worry that my judgement may be clouded.

That’s highly offensive and prejudice

It’s highly offensive, but it’s a bit shaky on the grounds of discrimination - their comments about ‘not being able to understand’ are clearly prejudicial and arguably discriminatory - but the fact that they wanted a talk on the topic in the first place is where the waters might be muddied. If you were to instigate proceedings, what would they look like? What is the potential outcome? Is there a committee member you could talk to about this in confidence before deciding what to do? I am a trustee and secretary for a local group and have had to kick someone out before for stalking behaviour so I do understand that there are permutations and it’s never as simple or as obvious as you think it’s going to be.

Have a quiet word . . .

Oh dear. It sounds exactly like what someone I know would say. Deeply prejudiced but he would deny it till the cows come home.

I'm assuming that you are also on this committee, in which case perhaps you need to ask the secretary / chair that the proposed event be discussed at the next full committee meeting. That will give this person the opportunity to repeat their comments, and provide you with additional ammunition.

@Arlanymor thanks for replying.

I don't think the fact they have suggested this particular talk mitigates anything.

It's a very fun and popular celebration and it could be said that we have slightly appropriated this particular event in the cultural calendar for our own enjoyment.

Sorry to be cryptic!

I have spoken to another committee member who agrees with me but I would be worried that other members would dismiss my complaint as "woke nonsense"

I plan to call our regional office for guidance. This person is already known to regional office as other complaints have been made by members.

This person is bullying me and has admitted in a recent meeting to being annoyed and angry that I was given a position they wanted to hold.

@thatsawhopperthatlemon when I requested that they put their ideas for this event to commitee at next meeting I was shot down in flames with a rude email telling me concentrate on my own area of responsibility and let them get on with theirs. This person mistakenly believes they are in charge of arranging speakers when they are in face only responsible for keeping track of the diary and maintaining a spreadsheet.

For there to be discrimination there has to be someone discriminated against. These comments fall more into the realm of general racism.

How much flak are you willing to take for this ? How much will the other committee members support you ? These are the questions you need to ask yourself.

Sounds like an opportunity to remind them what the scope of THEIR responsibilities are, then.

Forward the email to the Chair and copy in the Secretary, and ask them for it to be discussed. It is not up to this committee member to decide what is or is not included in the agenda for the next meeting.

@Maxorias we have tried to reign this person in. They are very difficult to manage. I am actually willing to resign if this person is not removed.

If they are. It removed by regional office for discrimination the next option is I propose that they be removed from committee and it will come down to a vote.

As much as I know I am liked and respected for the work I do I can't guarantee I will be supported in a it's me or them situation even though pretty much the whole commitee are sick of them. Some will be concerned about the optics of voting someone out and will prefer them to be removed by regional office for a breach of code of conduct.

This person is quite influential in the local community and this could have wider ramifications in other areas of committee member's lives if they go against them.

Suggesting that a speaker from the actual community who celebrates this occasion would be incomprehensible due to their accent is downright racist.

The committee member suggesting that they themselves do some research into it and present the thing so that people can understand it is deeply inappropriate and culturally insensitive.

I'm Jewish. If someone non-Jewish wanted to give a talk on, say, Chanuka (and I've deliberately spelled it with the non-English guttural 'ch' sound), but wanted to research it themselves and give the talk themselves, rather than invite a Jewish speaker because they would not understand the Jewish speaker's accent - yes, I would find that offensive. Discriminatory (can't understand those bloody foreigners) and exclusionary if there is the possibility of inviting a Jewish speaker.

If you're willing to quit to get away from this person then you have nothing to lose, so in these circumstances I'd go in with all guns blazing.

@Dilbertian thank you, this situation is pretty much identical to what you describe. They are basically saying that anyone with a "foreign sounding accent" should not be considered for a speaking slot.

If they had said they will do it because then we won't have to pay anyone I would still raise my eyebrows but saying it's because no one will understand them is even worse.

I know a couple of people from this particular country and never struggle to understand them at all.

This committee member actually said that they used to know someone from there and couldn't understand a word they said! So she is basing her opinion of a whole group of people based on one person she used to know.

Have you considered just ignoring them if at all possible? Going directly head to head with someone like this is not always the best way to deal with them plus by resigning you would probably be playing into their hands. Compassion that they're stupid and sympathy that they are so bigoted is the way I try to think of these people.

Is it Halloween and objecting to having an Irish person? Because while the comment is bloody offensive I guess it has been so widely spread that it wouldn’t be a strong argument now.

Not Halloween.

Would be similar to a presentation about the history and traditions around St Patrick's day and saying let's not have an Irish person present it in case no one can understand them.

Have tried ignoring this person but I've reached breaking point now.

you mentioned a regional office which suggests a large organisation. Is there not a formal complaints procedure or similar you could use. If it is something like Probus or WI there would be.

Have received a call from regional as they have today received a formal complaint about this committee member on another matter.

We now have to call a special meeting without this person being involved and we have to discuss the complaint plus all the other issues and come to a consensus as to this persons future on the committee.

So we've had some good guidance and hopefully this will be resolved without me having to resign.

I see the situation has moved on, but would like to offer you this for the future and any minuted discussions about if it's appropriate for her or others to represent cultures they aren't part of, instead of inviting someone who is:

"Nothing about us, without us!"

IME if whatever culture (and / or disability) it is, arrives outside a venue shouting this, everybody will be able to understand them; something generally better avoided. 😈