John Lewis 'allows trans women into bra-fitting rooms' as retailer hit by furious gender row

[IwantToRetire]

High street giant John Lewis is at the centre of a furious row amid claims its controversial trans policies put the safety of female staff and customers at risk, it can be revealed.

The retail group is facing claims its inclusive transgender policies – claimed to have been unilaterally imposed on staff – are "dangerous" and relegate women to "second class employees".

Lesley Pickup, who quit her job as a "selling partner" in John Lewis' Cheadle branch, allowed her resignation letter to be published on TV comedy writer and women's rights campaigner Graham Linehan's Substack platform, "The Glinner Update". In her letter, she insisted "female colleagues live in fear of dismissal if they speak out".

Ms Pickup said that for the past 20 years, she had been "involved with female victims from all faiths, cultures, ethnicities, and backgrounds who have been subjected to domestic and sexual violence and psychological abuse by men".

For some, she said, work offered "the only time in their lives where they should have guaranteed female-only safe spaces free from the demands of men regardless of who those men claim to be".

Full story https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/uk-news/john-lewis-allows-trans-men-33622299

The violation of our boundaries...

Yikes no more JL for me then!

The last time I went into an actual JL store (Oxford St), it was an awful experience. Bad enough that I actually complained.

Normally John Lewis is a cut above. This time absolutely bloody not.

It was a fairly uncomfortable experience, and I left without buying anything. In fact, I couldn't wait to leave.

I don't know if this is a result of them falling on harder times. But, if you're going to alienate your core customers, you can't be that shocked.

clomp, clomp, clomp, clomp. I thought the same thing.

I mean the retail business under capitalism is not that difficult a concept. You have a good or a service, and people called "customers" give you money in exchange for that good or service. Customers also often give you helpful suggestions about things you can do that will encourage them to give you even more money.

If you're running a lingerie department, the overwhelming majority of your customers will be women.

If you're arranging your lingerie department to appeal to Eddie Izzard, you might be in the wrong business.

Women don’t parade around in the fitting room area when trying on bras - at least not that I’ve ever experienced in all my years.
The males who perform as women seem to see the parading and being viewed as part of the process. Similarly to the way many transidentifying males appear to prefer peeing in the female cubicles with the door open.
The world (at least the female part of it) is their stage…

Oh I have seen it, once.

The first appearance of Culture club on TOTP. My mother looked up and asked, "Why don't these girls make themselves look pretty?"

That would be, what? The early 1980s?

If you mean 'Kim' I'm afraid he does it on purpose to attract attention, he says as much in one video.

I thought so, @ArabellaScott

I was a young & naive student when a transvestite ( the accepted term back then) came to my counter in the womens' clothing dept. His (large & v hairy) hands were shaking as he signed the payment slip. I assumed he was nervous, now I wonder if he was actually excited.

I am so over 'be kind'. I count myself lucky that my youth was over well before the social media age.

@quantumbutterfly check out the Guardian article I linked upthread yesterday morning.

Thanks for this accurate and useful summary.

I can’t un-see photos of rapist Isla Bryson outside the court in his pink tights, so obviously enjoying that moment of fame. It’s all about forcing themselves on an unwilling audience.

The Baroness strikes again.

https://x.com/Baroness_Nichol/status/1838249512407798178?t=qjg9A9SuykylU9Lgfl8k5w&s=19

"...bald-headed, beer-bellied bloke with a beard who calls himself Bianca..."

Love me a bit of alliteration 😁

That is a really good letter. It's basically throwing down the gauntlet.

Beer bellied Bianca is front and centre.

The reply will be very interesting. If they take issue with BBB being at all representative, they will be inundated with proof.

She just lifted the lid

Brilliant letter. That woman should do seminars.

Can anyone possibly copy and paste, I must have been sweary one time too many because she's blocked me I know she's quite strict on that!

Hre you go, Eresh.

Deleted - tried and failed to screenshot letter and saw that ArabellaScott had done so!

That is an absolute cracker of a letter! 😁

Maybe a letter to M&S may also be appropriate

https://x.com/gaynotqueer1/status/1838138942039671190?s=46&t=ZX_bLozRqm8etdGICMcAvA

That letter made me laugh. Can't wait to see the non response 😁

It’s ’beer bellied Bianca’ that makes it crude, unprofessional, deliberately offensive and actually not worthy of response.

Follow up letter 🔥

She's totally brilliant 😁