Majority of Scottish Government civil servants say they'll never add pronouns to their email signatures

[NonnyMouse1337]

Good to see pushback from civil servants. I hope they manage to keep up the resistance. Civil service shouldn't be politicised and pressured like this. It's authoritarian and the Scottish government needs to be called out on it.

www.holyrood.com/news/view,majority-of-scottish-government-civil-servants-say-theyll-never-add-pronouns-to-their-email-signatures

Excerpts from the article:

More than half of all Scottish Government staff say they have no intention of using pronouns in their email signatures, according to a recent internal survey.

The rejection comes ahead of a new civil service ‘pronoun pledge initiative’, which aims to “promote diversity and encourage inclusivity within the Scottish Government” by educating and raising awareness of “gender identities and pronoun use across the organisation to create and foster an open culture that is supportive of the LGBTI+ Community”.

A second poll is due to be conducted in September to see if there’s any change in the numbers.

However, internal correspondence, released to Holyrood under Freedom of Information legislation, showed that government staff working on the first poll were concerned about opposition to the proposal, and removed a comment option on the June poll to “minimise any negative responses.”

A spokeswoman for feminist campaign group ForWomen Scotland said: “It is frightening that the government would seek to politicise the civil service and co-opt public employees into an ideology that has no basis in law: this can only serve to undermine the impartiality and professionalism of the service.

“We would go as far as to say that it is a deeply stupid and undemocratic proposal, pushing sexist, dystopian ideas which are profoundly at odds with truly liberal progressive goals. It is also further evidence that this government only pretends to consult and ditches any views which conflict with their predetermined policies.”

Delighted to see this. Not only to shine a light on Scottish civil servants choices and liberties (I'm not in Scotland but have been watching with concern) but also as this debate is coming in my own organisation and I want to be able to show evidence that its not a solution to inclusion.

There'll be much bullying going on - it seems to be the main tool that the Scottish government uses to force through their desire to obliterate women's rights.

There will be unfortunately.

The rejection comes ahead of a new civil service ‘pronoun pledge initiative’, which aims to “promote diversity and encourage inclusivity within the Scottish Government” by educating and raising awareness of “gender identities and pronoun use across the organisation to create and foster an open culture that is supportive of the LGBTI+ Community”.

FFS. I wonder how many Stonewall points this initiative will net ScotGov.

That's the thing, the Scottish Government doesn't reflect the thoughts of the people of Scotland here. Most of us think it's bullshit.

A second poll is due to be conducted in September to see if there’s any change in the numbers.
Presumably the SNP will be organising some summer re-education camps.

However, internal correspondence, released to Holyrood under Freedom of Information legislation, showed that government staff working on the first poll were concerned about opposition to the proposal, and removed a comment option on the June poll to “minimise any negative responses.”

Isn't it just wonderful how FOIs help us uncover blatantly corrupt practices?

The survey was to gauge how civil servants would react to the planned pronoun pledge for civil servants. Anyone who works in government knows the civil service is not supposed to be politicised and although it frequently is, parties typically at least pay lip service to this principle. Here those planning to openly politicise the civil service in Scotland wish to find out how this would go down. And then decide, actually they don't really want to know if civil servants don't like the plan.

The Scottish Government have to consult. They have to be seen to be going through the motions in use throughout democratic states. But they'll be damned if they do it for real. And all in the name of respecting each other, of including all.

As Judge Claude Hilton recently said (in a judgement in an identity politics related case in the US):

“You can say all sorts of beautiful things while you’re doing others.”

This is so manipulative by the Scottish government. Didn't get the answers you wanted? Well let's just try again in a few months. Don't think you will get the lovely supportive comments you need to push your propaganda? Don't give people the option to comment.

They simply refuse to see that most people are against this. The vast majority of voters don't support this, but they are plowing ahead regardless, and brandishing anyone who questions/disagrees as a problem.

Which begs the question, who is pushing all this behind the scenes?

Also, I wonder what other widespread measures they are taking to 'promote diversity and encourage inclusivity' regarding the other protected characteristics?

Any major disability awareness initiatives going out to every civil service staff member to take part in? What about religious tolerance, are they promoting any widespread actions to raise awareness? What about age discrimination - that's a big problem, let's hope they start a widespread campaign to encourage all civil servants to think strongly about that issue.

Probably not.

@Mulletsaremisunderstood

Also, I wonder what other widespread measures they are taking to 'promote diversity and encourage inclusivity' regarding the other protected characteristics?

Any major disability awareness initiatives going out to every civil service staff member to take part in? What about religious tolerance, are they promoting any widespread actions to raise awareness? What about age discrimination - that's a big problem, let's hope they start a widespread campaign to encourage all civil servants to think strongly about that issue.

Probably not.

Quite. Diversity just seems to mean TQIAA+++. No-one cares about diversity of race, religion, sexual orientation or any of the other protected characteristics

I have a feeling that Stonewall law insists that re-education works because living in a democracy is secondary to their law. It would be good to have a UK wide referendum on women's rights, followed by a women's charter.

I'm confident on the result are you SNP, Labour, Lib Dems, Greens, Conservatives???

Unfortunately it will be the half that are on the greasy pole that will be putting their pronouns on their emails, so given time it will disproportionately management wonks doing it and pushing it.

And there will be pushback.

In workplaces.