Home Office

[DdraigGoch]

We've previously heard about how the Home Office toilets all went mixed sex, resulting in female staff using the facilities in another building. Now someone in the Home Office sent out an email asking staff to celebrate "Transgender Parents' Day", as well as a similar one recently for asexual awareness. A civil servant who is the parent of a trans teenager has spoken out about how this is not relevant and too politically divisive for work:

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10199039/Home-Office-chiefs-spark-anger-ordering-staff-celebrate-Transgender-Parents-Day.html

OvaHere The article says:

“ Shocked workers were informed that November 7 was the day ‘we celebrate all parents of transgender children’ ”

At least some people were shocked by it- nothing shocks me these days!

@BernardBlackMissesLangCleg

So the email was sent by Caroline Wild, who is a man who identifies as a woman, and a parent.

It appears that Caroline sent out an email to staff inviting them to essentially celebrate Caroline.

Caroline is also quite senior I believe, so it could even have felt like an instruction.

Caroline's full time job appears to be deputy co-chair of the Home Office LGBT+ Network. If someone could explain to me how this constitutes a productive use of tax payer's money I'd be ever so grateful.

Aah, now it all makes sense.

As an aside, has anyone watched the recent MrMenno video on YouTube? Its really worth a watch, one of his best I think. I don't think we're allowed to share him on here, but he showed a clip of an interview by the wonderful Stella O'Malley with Stephanie Hayton and it really moved me. I don't know how families get to the stage where they can celebrate this.

@rogdmum

OvaHere The article says:

“ Shocked workers were informed that November 7 was the day ‘we celebrate all parents of transgender children’ ”

At least some people were shocked by it- nothing shocks me these days!

Thanks. I still don't understand what is expected of people in a work context though.

I've started to kick back on this, as the head of HR is definitely on side. I am sick to the back teeth of LGBT+ issues being constantly circulated, whereas there is nothing like this in support of staff dealing with disabilities or caring responsibilities, say. Because it's not fun and edgy I guess.

Honestly, being LGBT+ in my 'progressive' work environment would not hamper your career or progression one bit.
But caring for a long term disabled child or partner? Not being able to travel at short notice? Just see what that does to your prospects.

@PhiRhoSigma

I've started to kick back on this, as the head of HR is definitely on side. I am sick to the back teeth of LGBT+ issues being constantly circulated, whereas there is nothing like this in support of staff dealing with disabilities or caring responsibilities, say. Because it's not fun and edgy I guess.

Honestly, being LGBT+ in my 'progressive' work environment would not hamper your career or progression one bit.
But caring for a long term disabled child or partner? Not being able to travel at short notice? Just see what that does to your prospects.

Absolutely agree. Apparently it’s been noted that I don’t have pronouns in my email signature at work so I’m starting to be a bit more forthright about how being “inclusive” means including different viewpoints and isn’t just about gender ID

I am appalled how the whole concept of a celebratory days has developed. It is obviously a way that a particular group can promote an issue. I believe that the whole transgender explosion is manufactured and is drawing in vulnerable teenagers who are being manipulated - they want to be different and rebel. Growing up and puberty are a difficult time for many this moment is praying on this and schools along with government bodies are supporting this.

"Transgender Parents' Day"

Since when has that been a thing then? 🤔

According to this: https://arcuslgbt.com/2020/11/01/trans-parent-day/ the day is to celebrate both parents who identify as trans and parents of trans children.

As the wonderful Birdy Rose says, what exactly is the connection between a middle aged man who finds the idea of himself as a woman sexually arousing and a teenage girl who hates her developing body?

As a side issue, I can't believe that the home office employs someone full time simply to lobby colleagues about BGT issues. And if Caroline is co-chair, I guess there's another one.

www.vercida.com/uk/features/spectrum-at-home-office?company=164

The gravy train rumbles ever on

As an aside, no one has ever invented a day for single parents to be celebrated or recognised. And there are bloody loads of us

@Clymene

As an aside, no one has ever invented a day for single parents to be celebrated or recognised. And there are bloody loads of us

Not stunning and brave enough I guess.

This overreach is doing so much damage though. It is doing the exact opposite of increasing inclusivity.

MilitantFawcett
Ah yes, pronouns. These have started appearing at my work also, but happily HR Head would not support compulsion. So that was a small victory against the woo woo lobby.

If that gets overturned at any point, I would politely decline, and explain that I don't see why signaling support for gender identity ideology is any more relevant to my profession than signaling support for a particular religion or political viewpoint. And we would never be asked to do that.

Fortunately for me, I am quite senior, and secure in my position. I can see how intimidating raising your head above the parapet could be if you are not.

Sadly my HR & senior leadership team is entirely captured (Civil Service) so even though I’m relatively senior and secure, if I want promotion or decent posts in future there’s a long game to be played. However I think internally people are starting to recognise that asking questions, not providing pronouns etc doesn’t automatically indicate “transphobia”. I’m known for being a loud advocate for diversity which also helps me to stand my ground, more junior staff have a real problem though and GC staff haven’t networked yet in the way that the gender ID crowd have ☹️

I am sick to the back teeth of LGBT+ issues being constantly circulated, whereas there is nothing like this in support of staff dealing with disabilities or caring responsibilities, say. Because it's not fun and edgy I guess.

Absolutely. But I’m also guessing that the LGBT+ issues have fuck all to do with the L and a lot to do with the T+?

In fairness my Dept has networks for everything including single parents, carers even a menopause one. Being equally objective, the L definitely doesn’t get the same attention as the T or the Q in the LGBTQ network.