Update: identifying as non-binary for work award

[Somerville1234]

Can't find the old thread... but anyway, there's an award/opportunity at work, only for people who are LGBT+++. I don't remember all the categories but they included genderqueer, genderfluid and genderfree. Also K, which I'm reliably informed stands for kink lifestyle. I don't understand why someone would need a special thing at work for getting off on weeing and whips (?? I don't watch porn, I don't have a clue), but maybe I'm just old fashioned. Anyway, old fashioned or not, I'm gender free because I don't believe in gender. And I wanted the professional opportunity. (Forgive me for the vagueness - being careful because of doxxing.) And you lot were encouraging...

I ended up applying - which didn't involve saying how I met the criteria, just ticking that I did. And then I was perpexedly approached by my woke boss.
(WB "Erm... so you realise that this is for LGBT+++ employees, Somer?"
S "Yes."
WB "Erm...it was my understanding you're a straight woman...?"
S "I'm genderfree and-"
WB: "Really?"
S "Yes, and I think I need to remind you that the staff handbook recommends that no-one should assume anybody elses's gender."
WB: "Oh, terribly sorry about that.")

I then had a lovely meeting with HR where they were very keen to update my pronouns on the system. I told them that being gender free I require the box beside gender to be left empty, but that I can accept female pronouns because that's my biological sex. They were happy with this novel idea and to learn more about the difference between sex and gender. They young HR person didn't know they're not synonyms but he learns something new every day apparently.

And now... I've heard I'm shortlisted for the next round!
It's been announced to the whole company, and I've had a few bemused looks but no direct transphobia, I'm happy to report.
My longsuffering DH (works in same field) has been teased a bit for my gender identity but he's happy to suffer for the sake of my fight for equality.

[Fazackerley]

Unless they mean..THE Kinks ?

[truthisarevolutionaryact]

Ponders whether to derail thread by discussing kinks??

No - this is an awesome thread. Go Somerville

[LordProfFekkoThePenguinPhD]

They might as just add Perv and Voyeur, or S&M. I blame 50 Shades of Crap for all this. Why ever not? What about ‘too lazy’ and agnostic?

[FlaviaAlbia]

Ha, that's brilliant, well done

As for K being a category, that's grim and has no place in a workplace

[teawamutu]

Somerville I LOVE you (in a strictly non way that respects any pronouns you may want to use that minute).

Please please do make the point about the contrast in service levels. And I'm totally using your pronouns vs sex explanation. Genius.

[Fazackerley]

Or Menopausal?

[LordProfFekkoThePenguinPhD]

I saw a furry in the street the other day. Now that was something you don’t see walking down the high street often. Did they have a category too? You just don’t get the freedom to dress as manga wolfboy these days. Society is just sooo judgemental.

[Atalune]

bank what is the link lifestyle then?

I find it deeply disturbing that kink is making its way into the LGBT umbrella and feel that teaching children to accept the K is hugely inappropriate and a sad indictment of the pornification of our sex culture.

[LizzieSiddal]

Unless they mean..THE Kinks ?

That’s was my first thought!

[teawamutu]

Yes, would love some clarity on why what you choose to do for sexual gratification should earn you extra opportunity at work? I can sort of see why activists have tried to tuck it under the umbrella but it's not the same as LGB, surely? Also boak at thought of knowing anything about colleagues' kinks.

[OrchidInTheSun]

There's a kink lifestyle?

[SalrycLuxx]

Should the opportunity arise, I will follow your brave and stunning lead

[Orangeday]

Bravo 👏🏻

[OVAgroundWOMBlingfree]

Good lord Bank how offensive, do you seriously think weeing and chains aren’t kinky enough to be included in the oh-so real and must totally be recognised K bracket? Are you mellow kink shaming those who only like to piss on people rather than brutalise? I’m so fed up of this kink hierarchy! Piss lovers demand to be recognised as a separate entity! Give us a P (please Bob) in the LGBTQQK!

[CuriousaboutSamphire]

Oooh! I know a network meeting I need to go back to... GenderFree...

I too only belatedly realised it was you Somerville Many thanks for the genius, and the sniggles (and nt, that isn't a kink).

[LordProfFekkoThePenguinPhD]

I’m going to drop the ‘gender’ and just use ‘free’ or the visual 😶

[OVAgroundWOMBlingfree]

LordProfFekkoThePenguinPhD

I hope someone doesn’t miss emoji you.

[Aimily]

This is great!! Good luck!!

[axil]

Well, if kink is included, as it's basically everything that isn't vanilla sex (not just BDSM), then it won't be long before John in accounts turns up one day in his latex chaps with a ball gag. Age play is a kink to some (something else to others..), so is it discriminatory for Brian two cubicles over not to be allowed to wear his onesie with a nappy to work?

Are HR on such a woke trip that all their reasoning has gone?! You simply cannot be disadvantaged by something that nobody has any idea about! If nobody knows you're not a once-a-week missionary position type of person, nobody can discriminate. Plus, nobody either cares or wants to know!

[colehawlins]

Is anyone else thinking of doing this? Not necessarily for awards but going to HR and asking to be noted as Agender/gender free?

We need a longish list of synonyms for this particular identity, i think.

[LizzieSiddal]

Lola, how appropriate.

[frazzled1]

Awesome plan Somer. Female pronouns due to biological sex - genius . (Why not insist HR record you as genderfree except every third Wednesday when you must be noted agender? ....).

Woke boss is relying on most people fitting neatly into 1950s style regressive boxes so that the oh so speshul ones can stand out. Nah sorry mate, we're all as stunning & unique as you are.

[grasspigeons]