Workplace cake sale to raise money for Mermaids

[Cucumbersalad]

To celebrate International Women's Day a charity bake sale is being held at my workplace to raise money for Mermaids UK, "to show our support for the transgender community".

Has anybody come across a similar situation in the workplace, and if so, did you raise any concerns? I'm cowardly about speaking out, but I feel I should say something! How to do this delicately/ sensitively?.I don't want to rock the boat though, as it's work! And ultra-woke...

Whether there's any controversy or not about Mermaids (and we all know there is), it is not a WOMEN'S charity! Simple.

And as for the the LGBT group having to be consulted....I despair.

There are so many small, deserving, desperate-for-funds women's charities.

I think I'd make my own cakes and cards and sell them for the local women's refuge. Mermaids have bugger all to do with women it is a very odd choice of Pressure group charity for this particular day, almost a deliberate snub of women.

As well as the all-powerful LGBT committee, does your organisation have a women's committee? And, if not, why not? It clearly needs one!

The non-binary activist is an inappropriate speaker. If someone does not identify with womanhood, why are they involved in IWD? Why have they been lined up to tell women what feminism should encompass?

This sounds like a hostile workplace for women.

Hi OP just want to give you some friendly advice to not update us with any specific wording of emails etc... In case they find this and try to get you on any social media policies.

Appreciate your not naming the company but they might argue specific sharing of company internal communications is a breech.

Thanks for warning @LouHotel will get it deleted!

I'm too cross to properly post, and also conscious of directly quoting, but just to update everyone that our workplace has replied today to say they intend to carry on with the bakesale benefitting mermaids. Absofuckinglutely furious!

Spread the word, tell people what this charity actually does to children.

Question why its not a woman's charity the money is being raised for (and with the numbers of girls referred to gender clinics way more than boys - this is an ultimately male charity.

Name and shame the company. If they are happy to stand up for this crap then let them in the forum of public opinion.

@Juststopswimming I’m sorry but not remotely surprised by that! They clearly did no basic research before agreeing to the suggestion & Im sure the LGBTQ group had a total fit of the vapours at any suggestion of criticism and I’m sure the word transphobic would have been mentioned

I would go from the angle of - how do charities get nominated and how do we ensure everyone has input into the process

But I also echo you with a very loud FOR FUCKS SAKE

Yes, ask them why they seemingly couldn't bring themselves to support a women's charity for IWD. It says a lot about their attitude to women.

They have no balls then? Well they are making their own bed for the next round of demands by the mafia. Goof luck unpicking all the damage they will be doing.

I'd be suggesting they all get the day off for some lgbetc specific days and festivals. Maybe have separate facilities for all the letters - one each should do it. Special menus, all new stationery and branding, what about some nice corporate advertising inthe national press? A float at Pride?

Can't you just respond with 'surely for IWD you should be consulting with women?'

just to update everyone that our workplace has replied today to say they intend to carry on with the bakesale benefitting mermaids. Absofuckinglutely furious!

I would put on record with them that this is a poor decision.

The Judicial Review of the treatment of children by NHS Tavistock GIDS starts in July.

Mermaids will be scrutinised.

I would write an email and send to to relevant people - depending on the type or organisation - so that my issues were in writing and on record.

The worms will get out of the can at some point and those responsible for allowing this cannot be allowed to say ‘we didn’t know’.

This might cheer you up a little...

Piccy fail

She was here! She came! It’s live a visit from Santa.

God bless you stickerwoman! (But go for the front window next time)

An anonymous email to the financial director pointing out shareholders have not been consulted in this divisive and controversial decision might help, also that this thread exists and at some point mumsnetters will work out what the company is.
Also I'd be looking to change employer.

2015 'lessons learned'

"Two decades on, the organisation is so toxic that everyone who supported it has been poisoned: Yentob himself, the celebrities who poured their money into the charity, the journalists who did its PR, and above all, the politicians who saw it as the perfect model of the charitable sector moving in to take over the functions of the state."

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/oct/16/kids-company-camila-batmanghelidjh-charity

Maybe for next IWD they could raise money for the RSPCA or the National Trust.

So I’ve seen a couple of IWD posters new me - one in a bank (photo) and one in an offie block lobby. Just a sign. No collections - or anything really...

Honestly, if it wasn't too outing to share the content of the email I would, its so ridiculous. I've swung between wanting to send a response back listing all the reasons they're wrong, and just thinking it's not worth it as they're not going to listen and I'm just going to be labelled as a trouble maker/transphobic.

You could pick a few of the most important reasons. Including one which relates to how this decision is likely to age (not well)

In this dynamic you are the adult!

FFS utterly furious for you. I would ask them to agree to raise funds for a women’s charity for the whole of Pride month/year/decade