Transman repeatedly platformed at work

[Stuckinlalaland]

I work for a very large UK insurance company in their corporate office. We are one of the biggest UK insurance companies.

Last month someone did a talk, a trans speaker, to talk about ‘his story’. I didn’t attend but heard from others that it was a long sob story about their life, in which they shared the trauma they suffered in early life and their journey.

If you are at all educated about this, it sounded barbaric. Sharing in a corporate setting how they cut off their healthy breasts, about how they alienated themselves from their entire family etc.

And I’ve heard that they’re coming in AGAIN.

what can I do about this? I don’t want to put my head above the ground but it’s so dangerous.

I saw a post about it on X where someone has flagged the issue, but I don’t think it went anywhere.

I think it’s going to have to be this, but I find it to be such an odd concept.

This person says nothing helpful- I would love to have a speaker come in and talk about DV, neurodivergence, menopause, or something which would actually help people.

This is just a transman telling the room about how difficult their life has been and posting about it afterwards on social media saying what a Good Samaritan they are for telling their story. Hell, if they even spoke about how to be more open to different people in different walks of life I’d be more understanding because then at least it would have a purpose!

On a personal level, bless them I’m sure it’s been tough and if I was in their position who knows what I would’ve done, but we can’t normalise this kind of thing. It’s crazy!

Companies have a duty of care and encouraging someone to expose their trauma is not always in that person’s best interests.

I'd just avoid the talk. If they haven't made it mandatory, attendance will be low anyway, and it'll all taper off naturally. Most people just aren't interested in this kind of thing. The fad is already falling out of fashion, and sooner or later this person is going to find themselves marooned on the other side of an outgoing tide. It's sad, really.

I find it interesting that the call has been put out on this thread by someone who clearly thinks the trans person brave and beautiful that people need to "show mercy". If the trans person were not messed up, what would be the need for mercy? They'd be doing fine without it, surely?

as if
more like, the first lot of attendees weren't sufficiently impressed

OP @Stuckinlalaland

as an aside, are you linked up with SEEN in the City? You may find them helpful and vice versa they may be grateful for your insider knowledge. They’re on LinkedIn

If it's an insurance company, a more pertinent talk would be whether there are any areas of society, medical practice or any other things where they anticipate increased risk and payouts in future years.

For example, medical malpractice claims such as the one successfully won in the USA for an adult who feels they were rushed into medical transition - $2million payout was it?. A talk on that case would be very interesting and much more relevant to the workforce I'd have thought.

Or what the consequences might be for a service provider or employer if a woman or girl is attacked by a male bodied individual in a toilet or changing room labelled 'women's' but which in fact is mixed-sex by stealth in their policies. Especially post SC judgement.

I wish I had a workplace where it was legitimate to attend what sound like the types of speakers you'd expect in a community space in work time. I'm just underpaid and overworked with far too much work to fill my working hours.

It's not making me feel as if this insurance company is putting its clients - or the affordability of their insurance - first, gotta say.

I take heart that there are HR leaders who recognise that these type of talks and other similar HR initiatives have NO impact on individual or organisational efficiency or performance. Its worth a listen.

The debate does remind me of the olden days when I was paid to do a job and didn't need to bring my whole self to work to suceed.

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/this-isnt-working/id1733064272?i=1000751233294

There at some good organisations that will
provide speakers on other subjects including menopause - it typically just needs a motivated group of employees to make it happen.

I used to work in a public sector organisation that paid these types of speakers. It was was much less efficient than the private sector organisation where I currently work where we don't have time for that.

It was a waste of taxpayer money in my opinion.