Transgender training at work

[YogaNChocolate]

My manager has just sent over some info on transgender awareness training we’ll be having shortly at work.

I don’t want to say who is delivering it, as it’s an individual not an organisation and it may out my workplace. I’ve had a look at the person’s social media and while, thankfully, they aren’t someone who screams TERF at people, they are someone who thinks JK Rowling is a transphobe and has liked/retweeted lots of tweets where people (usually young men) are explaining to JK just how confused, thick and hateful she is for using the word ‘woman’.

I don’t know how I am going to stomach this training. While I’m happy to learn more about how I can support vulnerable young trans people in our setting, I am not happy to be told I’m an offensive transphobic dinosaur for believing that women are biological females.

What have you all done in this situation? I’m having palpitations just thinking about it.

Is this training compulsory, or just the idea that if you don't attend you are transphobic by your absence? Is this via Zoom or in person?

Can MN give you some clear facts so you can counter with references anything that is particularly egregious?
e.g.

• Sex is protected under legislation and gender reassignment, not gender identity?
• specific protection for single sex spaces
• Correct statistics on eg murders

Then can you also have some clear phrases eg trans people should not be discriminated against in terms of jobs, pay etc, but sex is a protected characteristic and women are entitled to keep their single sex toilets at work under the law.

The training might be fine, but it could be good to be prepared with some calm information perhaps?

I've tended to make copious notes and use them to discuss the training afterwards.

But people already know that a)I'm a pain and b) I know far more than them about lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans issues, trends in related language and how to be genuinely inclusive.
So tbh I havent had that much of a hard time so far speaking out.

I think the last time we had training I tried to perform extreme wokeness in my challenges.
Eg there were a few statements that were just sexist like women not being punished for being gender non conforming. I could quote documentaries about cases where that was not the case.
There was weird reifying of 'third gender' people in different cultures. My indian colleague took on the nonsense about hijra. I questioned the lack of depth in how fa'fafine were characterised.

It was kind of fun.

But also demoralising and it bothered me for a long time afterwards.
Partly just because the training I develop is so well referenced and tested.

It was amateurish and thin and manipulative.

Awareness! As if anyone isn't 'aware' of transgenderism by now. Jesus.

@OhHolyJesus

The training will be group training via Zoom and I’ll be expected to attend. Although if I missed it, I wouldn’t have another chance to attend, as it’s a paid for, one-off training for my department...

@TeenPlusTwenties

I like the idea of having a few facts to reference if needs be. I tend to think a million thoughts at once when it comes to this issue, get really passionate about it and then be either frozen in silence or start rambling in a slightly shouty way . I can’t really do the shouty thing in a professional setting.

@SuperLoudPoppingAction That's actually a really good idea. To focus on noting points for discussion with my team afterwards, rather than challenging the trainer in the session. I like that, thank you!

@MittensTheSerpent. This does seem overkill. The wider organisation had a transgender awareness session last year, but I was on a different training that day, so this is a kind of refresher I suppose and I’m pretty sure it’s a tick box exercise to show how woke we are. Sigh.

I say go into it with an open mind, I'm sure they won't expect you to speak specifically about your views, and you can use the opportunity to play 'devils advocate' to the things you are being told.

Transgender awareness is definitely the most pressing need of the moment. I've never heard of it, is it something to do with logistics?

I'd see if you can pin them down to some actual figures so you can see if your organisation does in fact need to accommodate trans people better, and spot where they are just giving you waffle or asking you to discriminate AGAINST female/disabled/neurodiverse/religious people.

'How many people lose their jobs for being transgender?'
'Are those figures for the UK?'
'How do we balance the needs of trans people against the different needs of...?'
'Can you give me a reference for that, so that I can go into it in more depth later?'
'Does that mainly affect male or female people, as they probably have different challenges?'
'Are there specific health risks we should be aware of?'
'Are the trends getting better or worse in the UK?'
'What age groups are we talking about? How many people did that cover?'

I'm curious about which sector you work in. Unless you want to lose your job, you will have to grit your teeth and stay quiet I'm afraid (just look at their shared tweets which don't bode well). If you show real resistance to what they're saying, that will mark you out as a questionable person for them, someone to keep an eye on.

There's two ways to place this:

1. Use the Woke against them "Hi there, thank you for the invitation to this training. Unfortunately this topic is extremely triggering for me and I won't be able to attend."

2. There may be a benefit, however, to attending and as others have said making notes and finding facts to counter them to bring up afterwards. However this will likely mark you out as a dissenter and could have professional repercussions for you later.

*two ways to play this

Could you ask what the aim of the training is? Do you have a lot of trans team members/customers/whatever. When was your last training session on institutional racism, women’s rights, etc, etc (whatever would be appropriate for your specific setting).