To think this isn’t appropriate work conversation?

[AllIDoIsFloat]

Sat at work and on my lunch break while two colleagues discuss that they are anti-LGBT. In its entirety. They believe lesbians and gay people are going against “gods will” and that trans people are just mentally unwell and the surgery should be illegal.

Now I’m somewhat gender critical myself but certainly don’t believe that the surgery should be illegal. And in any event, I don’t think it’s appropriate for work? They don’t know what other people are going through, how they or their family identify. It just makes me sad that they think this is appropriate. I’m

Hope you are okay OP.

In your shoes I think I’d be questioning the workplace culture and if it’s right for me. I would feel uncomfortable working in a place where homophobic views are openly expressed.

I said I don’t agree with their view on gay people. I don’t believe in God for one, and two, being gay isn’t a choice. I do agree that people who identify as trans are sometimes mentally ill. There is also a huge link to being autistic. They are victims of the awful stereotyping our society has made.

Thinking you’re trans is because of society made expectations of what being a man or woman should apparently be. Take that stereotyping nonsense away and people wouldn’t feel the need to identify as outside of their sex. It’s completely different to being gay.

None of this should be discussed at work, but when women are being told to accept men in their toilets and to use the pronoun ‘she’ for a man, the workplaces are bringing this into people’s work lives.

@AllIDoIsFloat Perhaps you should refrain from eavesdropping on other people’s conversations?

I'm extremely supportive of the LGB community, but don't think the comment is 'hateful' as in hate speech. A term greatly over used.
There are people who think all sorts of things are against gods will, from consuming alcohol, or meats, to abortion to divorce. They are entitled to interpret their religion as they see fit, and many are coming from a 'hate the sin' position. There are many people against GA surgery and believe the wish to change gender is a mental illness. This is highly controversial and there is no accepted 'appropriate position' on this.
Where opinions cross into hate is where people actively call for the harm of people doing things they disagree with.Your colleagues were not doing this.
However in answer to your question, its not appropriate to share controversial views about PCs in the workplace, and I would have said so, phrasing it as "You can't say things like that at work" rather than getting into an argument with them about their views.

In your opinion.

Perhaps they should refrain from having hateful conversations at work.

Freedom of speech is for your home life. Noone wants to hear your controversial opinions at work. Especially if your work has a DEI policy and your views directly contravene it.

The egoism of people baffles me. Presumably neither of these colleagues is gay or trans so why do they feel the need to openly express their opinions on issues that dont affect them - and at work of all places? Presumably they are neither in any form of managerial position - but it is still highly inappropriate.

Saying that gay and lesbian relationships are wrong is ridiculous, hateful and beyond ignorant. Most importantly, who consenting adults choose to have sex with is absolutely none of your business.

If you’re unfortunate enough to hold these views you should keep them to yourself, in 2025 nobody should have to listen to such shite.

It’ll be because of the T part. We’re fed up of being told we have to lie at work (calling a man ‘she’) and being told we have to share toilets with a man because he’s decided he’s a woman. One of the men at my work is a man some days and a woman others. If anyone gets his pronouns wrong, he sulks. He can get to fuck.

Mumsnet is on the whole pro women’s rights, it’s full of women after all. That isn’t the same as being ‘anti trans’. And the vast majority support LGB rights, it’s actually a reason why they are seen as anti trans. After all, it’s quite annoying when lesbians here say they have been called transphobic because they won’t date a man who he says he’s a woman. 🤯 LGB all the way! T needs to sort their shit out.

Have you actually read the OP?

OP wasn’t spying on them in their own home - this conversation happened at work - how is that eavesdropping?

@Lucyccfc68
true, I was just playing devils advocate. I am aware how many cases end up in disciplinary re eg Christmas parties.

(Aren't Christmas parties celebrating the birth of Christ so shouldn't be attended by anyone other than devout Christian's?😉🤣).

I don’t understand the connection you are making.

You seem to just want an excuse to sound off about trans people.

These people are homophobic. That’s shitty, end of story.

"Freedom of speech is for your home life".

I hope not, not only for at home!

Trust me, everyone else is glad you don’t work in an office too.

It is completely inappropriate and unprofessional to have these sorts of conversations at work.

Its fine to have an opinion but you do not need to discuss it at work.

Some men think women should not be allowed to work, vote or have an opinion - would you seriously be ok hearing those sorts of conversations?
What if it was a team of 15 men and one young woman and all they talked about was how women have too many rights etc.

The workplace should be inclusive, where everyone feels safe and they can do their jobs without being judged.

Trans policies affect us all. It doesn't not affect me because I'm not trans!

Its absolutely this. What is worrying is the forced teaming of LGB and T, which means unless you're all in, and fully accepting of TI, you're in with the homophobes and your 'hate speech' should be silenced.
It's very manipulative to lump together one view that most people in our society would find discriminatory, with another view that is prevalent in the mainstream and is protected under law and ask if the expressing of both of these as a package is wrong.
People have no business at work discussing sexuality. There may be very good reasons to discuss TI if it impacts on women's rights in the workplace.
The conversation as reported here was inappropriate. But I wouldn't support silencing of people expressing GC views where its relevant.

You think this is ok? And legal?

I'm not sure why you're getting a hard time on here @AllIDoIsFloat . It's hard tackling stuff especially when you're new.
Well done for reporting it. Whether it's part of someone's religion or not it's a shitty attitude and you do right to report it. The amount of hate around is scary. It's not ok whoever is being talked about.

As a bi woman (shock horror!) l get that. I don’t feel any connection with the T part or really understand why someone somewhere has decided we need to be lumped together.

That said, l still think the conversation cited by the OP is inappropriate.

Did you miss the part where they discussed trans people? I think you must have.

The fact is that the trans movement has been brought into workplaces. Women are told to share toilets with men and use incorrect pronouns or face disciplinary action. This has opened up the conversation about not just T, but LGB as well, because T cleverly got themselves tagged onto LGB. LGB people have suffered because of this and it’s a real shame.

This

So we can now add that homophobia is on the rise, along with racism and ableism. Another step back.

I am genuinely disgusted by some on this thread. I thought most had moved on from homophobia. Even those with religion. I know many gay religious people. And many religious people who don't give two shits what other people do with their genitals.

This is absolutely not appropriate conversation for work, and you are right to report it.

Don’t you also think it’s inappropriate that companies are making women use toilets with men? And that we have to use incorrect pronouns or face being sacked?

The reason people are now having these conversations more often and more openly at work is because of the Trans movement. It also means that homophobic people feel they can say what they want unfortunately because it’s all lumped in together despite the fact that sexuality has fuck all to do with gender. There are valid reasons that issues arise in the workplace if you work with trans people, toilets, pronouns etc, but there are no valid reasons that issues should arise if you work with a LG or B person. They don’t ask us to change in any way, just treat them the same as straight people. Unlike T people who usually ask a lot of others at the expense of ourselves.

😂 you are not wrong, although I have seen some very in-Christian behaviour at works Christmas parties.