A consultation guide for feminist and LGBTQ+ academics and allies circulated at my workplace

[Beesneeze82]

I feel a bit lightheaded to see this land in my inbox. It's a plea to fill in the consultation with guide responses and explanation of the backlash by those hostile to trans rights. It talks about anti trans groups with significant funding claiming to be feminists with powerful voices in the media. I work for a university and this has been distributed by the LGBT network.

What can i do?

I don't think there's much you can do without bringing down their fascistic ire.

I guess mentioning in passing to colleagues that you've seen support for discussion on this issue from many women on a grass roots level .... might be a way forward. Tackling their bullshit without getting you burned as a witch.

Complete the consultation giving your own views. The FairPlayForWomen site has an already completed form if going through the actual thing is too arduous. Do not let other people tell you what you think! We're not living in a Stalinist state yet.

As far as I know, none of the groups I'm familiar with and support have "significant funding", it's grass-roots contribs from women like you and me. Pay no attention their propaganda as it's a reverse. Trans groups and Stonewall are the ones with the significant funding

I left leaflets in the women's toilets last week. Maybe I prompted it?

Ask for proof of those supposedly fake feminist groups and funding streams - these can easily be found re TRA funding, where's the evidence for this? Which groups define as 'anti trans' - if they're slurring FPFW and WP then obviously their mission statements are very clear, minutes have been videoed and minuted, it's all there to be checked before slander/libel is accidentally committed with all the legal risks involved?

Which powerful voices in the media? And in comparison to what balance exactly?

Obviously important to do due diligence before making a complete fool of the organisation by spreading fake news and encouraging employees to act on it.

I've done the consultation and am mentioning to all female friends i feel comfortable to do so with. I know it's propaganda but feel this will reach more people than my meagre attempts and am kind of shocked it's allowed.

It talks about anti trans groups with significant funding claiming to be feminists with powerful voices in the media.

I’d reply asking who these groups are. If they respond naming WPUK or FPFW they both have statements to refer to about funding etc I believe that you could send back.

Not specifically outing yourself as GC, just questioning the claims/allegations they’re making.

Could you forward it to A Woman's Place UK or Fair Play for Women who have a meeting at the House of Commons tomorrow? Or to someone like James Kirkup who has written about how even Ministers are afraid to speak out about this?

It sounds like there are some very dubious assertions in that guide and it would be good to see them get an airing.

The university where I work has also been very pro LGBTQ+ (emphasis on the TQ currently), but on an individual level I've found many people (as anywhere) are willing to listen to and consider reasonable questions. Academics don't like being told what they should think even if they don't always speak out when they ought to.

And obviously employees should be looking at facts, information and evidence before they make their own minds up as to how to fill in a government consultation. No work place should be pressuring employees to follow a specific political view by circulating a request like this, or requesting to vote in a particular way, that's an outrageous thing to do - HR should be looking into this - and certainly not on nothing more than hearsay.

Are they going to implore employees to vote Green at the next election? Did they try to swing Brexit?

I would go to your Head of Department about this to be honest.

I would ask why it is that a particular group in the University is being allowed to distribute material through official channels?

Fine if they want to leaflet in the toilets like you did but going through the formal University email system is not on. There's an open debate and consultation so why is one perspective being allowed to be prompted through this very official channel and not others?

You'd out yourself as a TERF but if you're happy with that then that's what I would do.

Thanks for your responses.

Its really knocked me for six to come face to face with such overt propaganda.

On reflection, I would be quietly contacting a manager and saying 'er - this could be construed as the organisation pressuring people to use their vote in a particular way, which is so unethical its ridiculous, this leaves us wide open - also that there's no evidence to back up claims that could be regarded as libellous? Shouldn't we be pulling this fast and checking it out (due diligence etc) as a fairly major risk?'

Gameoldbird, that's how i feel, why is one side allowed but not the other?

I need to consider carefully.

Given how heavily this agenda has been promoted and advanced through LGBT networks UK-wide, whilst the wider public is kept in the dark, this smacks a bit of desperation.

Oh and great idea from Floisme to forward the info. to FPFW or A Woman's Place, or a GC journalist or two.

Don't put your head above the parapet if you think it might expose you to risk.

Definite yes to sharing this with the people for tomorrow's HoC meeting. This is an appalling failure of professional conduct, the subject matter is irrelevant. It's become somehow ok for everyone including the police to abandon normal standards and get highly politically partisan if it's a matter regarding 'trans'. It's not ok.

Can you take it up with HR? I really don’t think that’s appropriate in the workplace. Imagine if someone emailed all their employees and instructed them to vote Tory If you’re not comfortable raising it with HR perhaps contact your MP (depending on what they’re like) or contact Baroness Winterbourne who should be up to speed after the HoL meeting. Other than that, the press might be an option, putting pressure on employees is not acceptable in a democracy.

what Knicknackpaddyflak said

I wouldn't necessarily frame it as "why isn't the other side represented too?"

I think that positions you as hysterical TERF (which is fine by me but you know!)

I think it's rather about why one group is able to send their perspective through official university channels.

I would potentially take the focus away from the actual issue (the GRA) and more towards the use of official email lists (how did the LGBTQ people get your email if you're not a member of their group?) to promote one perspective of a nuanced/complex issue.

If that makes any sense.

You need to take it up with HR if it's official and from your employer, or reply all with the Fair Play or Woman's Place link.

I mean, literally reply all with the Fair Play link and say - 'more help here for those filling in the consultation' .

When Brexit was happening, for example, we were told that the University wouldn't be taking a position and that we wouldn't receive any material from any official University group/organisation/channel so that there would be no hint of influencing/biasing people's personal perspectives and votes.

I actually know that someone got into quite a bit of trouble for sending a "please vote remain" email to a few colleagues.

I think this is exactly the same type of situation - your employer shouldn't take a position and shouldn't be sending official information.

As I said, I would question why the LGBTQ group has your email if you're not a member...

Thanks so much everyone.

I've fired off an email to Institute Director expressing my concern as to how this could be construed without getting into the subject matter.

Ill see what they say.

Will you let us know how you get on, OP?

I've checked my university email just and we don't have anything but I could see it happening.

Thanks for standing up for us.