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

The point is that expressing homophobic views and expressing GC views are not one and the same. People who will strongly condemn the homophobia will wish to protect their rights to express GC views. The OP has lumped the two together, so that people are forced to either deny people's rights to speak their GC opinions, or support people's rights to be homophobic. When the two have nothing in common. One is protected by law and the other is discriminatory.

I agree 100%. Maybe if employees hold very strong personal opinions that they will feel obliged publicly share at work, they should disclose these at interview stage?

Also, as a Christian, the views expressed by these colleagues are NIT those of most Christians.

You seem to think it’s all
odd.

I think it's legal. They have not discriminated against anyone. It's the act of discrimination which is illegal, not the holding of discriminatory views.

I think it was an unwise conversation to have in a workplace, and a completely unacceptable one to have if they hold any sort of supervisory role.

But where have we got to that people get so upset about hearing what are not actually particularly unusual views said by other people? We do not have a right to go through life never hearing anything we disagree with, or are upset by, nor would it be good for society if we did.

I don't agree with their views but I do believe that they have a right to say it unless other people were absolutely forced to listen to it.

Let them take their god or beliefs into the disciplinary meeting. They soon See how far prayer gets them in front of HR

report them OP

Exactly. The vast majority of people I know are pro LGB. For most ‘modern thinking’ people, LGB is just accepted, but many of those same people have valid concerns over the T, even the ones that are LGB themselves!

They wouldn’t be horrible to a person struggling with gender issues, but, they don’t want to share toilets, be forced to use incorrect pronouns at work, they don’t want men taking over women’s sports, they don’t want men in any of their safe spaces, they don’t want their children being told that they can opt out of their sex by using gender, they worry for autistic children who are vulnerable to this ideology, they don’t want young people taking harmful puberty blockers and cross sex hormones and having healthy body parts removed.

Gender should be criticised, it’s extremely harmful to everyone but especially women, children and autistic people.

Totally agree.

The OP was on her lunch-break when she allegedly overheard this so her colleagues were likely on their lunch break too and most contracts state lunch breaks are unpaid so effectively their own time. If so, its not an HR matter if indeed it ever was.

I hope you can update soon, OP.

It may depend whether the employees were on work premises. Even outside of work, if they had uniform on that showed who they worked for, they may possibly be in trouble.

Why "allegedly"?

Do you think the OP is making this up?

The lines are blurred because some religions hold views that believe being gay is a sin, or bar women and gay people from either roles or practices in the their religion. Regions views are protected , sadly having GC view is. It a protected characteristic but we are all allowed freedom of thought. I agree challenging policies is absolutely “allowed”. The very fact rainbow flags are allowed and in workplaces sanctioned/encouraged and adopted in some workplaces makes it difficult for those who do hold different views. The work place in many organisations has become political which I think is wrong. I don’t think the individuals should have been discussing this at work but neither do I think places should display rainbow flags. It works both ways really , employees shouldn’t have belief shoved at them, it is one thing to have a code of practice telling employees how they should behave at work (which this conversation falls into) but another thing to tell them that their views are “phobic” or an “ism”

Many have had a list of what you CANNOT talk about. Many workplaces do. Other than when I was a nanny, every workplace I’ve had has a list of things that cannot be discussed at work or anything dealing with work (work events). It was often in the Code of Conduct/ employee handbook and/or in contract before signing.

This is nothing new and it is super easy not to express such views that the OP has described.

I don’t care. It’s their job security they are playing with. If they want to lose their job over views they could easily not express at work that’s on them. People can and do lose their jobs for such views especially if it impacts the company.

If they feel free to say such things at work, can only imagine what they say online.

No it is true if you believe that the Bible is God's word. I would not be nasty to anyone gay however I would state that I do not approve of their lifestyle but quite happily be friendly towards them.

It’s hateful and belongs outside the workplace for sure.
people are allowed their views - but voicing shit like this at work? No fucking way. It’s discriminatory and awful. Work will (or certainly should!) have a policy at the very least on this.

It says she was sat at work - suggesting she was in the work building and therefore it’s not an appropriate converstation to have.

If they were outside but in uniform then they still have to abide by certain rules.

Are you seriously suggesting that if a male employee made inappropriate comments to a young female trainee, that she should not report it if it was during their lunch break?

What if someone got drunk at the Xmas party and started saying how black people deserved to be slaves - is it acceptable because it’s technically out of work hours?

I am a lesbian and use the LGB label without the T. I am GC and firmly believe that most people who identify as trans are mentally ill. I also vehemently oppose the NHS funding gender reassignment surgery, That is my opinion to which I am entitled, (No doubt some rabid pro-Trans MN is going to try to get this post deleted to wipe out a lesbian’s opinion. Watch this space.)

I agree that conversations like this, as well as topics like religion and politics, are not suitable for the workplace. However, it is NOT a hate crime to express disapproval of someone’s sexuality or gender identity. An actual crime has to have occurred, eg assault, direct abuse to an individual or inciting violence. I defend anyone’s right to free speech, regardless of whether I agree with their opinion.

I have worked in environments over the years where I have heard homophobic comments and language, and have, on at least 2 occasions, said “you know I’m gay, don’t you?”, which has shut the person up very quickly.

These things are better addressed directly at the time, rather than running off to complain to management, which will only breed resentment from the colleagues in question.

'it is NOT a hate crime to express disapproval of someone’s sexuality or gender identity.'

I'm genuinely sorry to say, that it is in Scotland. There is no definition, no threshold. Anything at all, that any person decides is offensive, can be a 'hate crime' under our Hate Crime Act.

In practise, most will not result in a conviction, but that doesnt' mean that they won't be used to arrest, harass, and distress people.

Thanks, Scotgov, for recreating Big Brother as an immersive RPG for 2025.

Being gay isn't 'a lifestyle'. It's not a choice. You don't get to 'not approve'.

I bet they are really greatful for that .

They are entitled to their beliefs just as you are entitled to work in a space that doesn't all people to espouse such beliefs around you.

This should be taken very seriously by your manager.

Bigoted against myself?

You know nothing about my views or about me, so pipe down.

You know, this isn't 1900. Gay people don't need the "protection" of office busy bodies eavesdropping on colleagues and jumping on anyone who casually expresses an opinion.

This

Even a 'shall we talk about something else as this feels a bit uncomfortable' would bring it to a close
I can well imagine that it would just make them start arguing, actually.

You do actually. You can disapprove of whatever you like. I’m gay and some people disapprove of homosexual relationships; they are entitled to their opinion and may disapprove if they wish. It bothers me not one jot!