Is this massively inappropriate or should I just accept that this is where I work...?

[RoadSidePicnic]

This morning I have opened up my company Teams platform to a message wishing all staff a happy Trans Visibility Day. And a photo of three beer cans from a trans owned business.

There will be some sort of social tonight for people to enjoy a trans beer.

They always do this. We already have a progress flag flying in the office and one of my colleagues with a "non binary" partner (who is constantly pushing this nonsense I should add) wears his Protect the Dolls t-shirt constantly. It's tiresome.

Does anyone else have to put up with this shit at work?

Maybe I shouldn't get too specific but we are a company that serves the technology sector (tech sector is expansive, so shouldn't be too outing). We're private sector.

Oh, and the other week they posted a thing about supporting Gendered Intelligence, a sister charity to Mermaids! I looked them up, they are dodgy as fuck (and you should see the group photo of the team, my god....).

Anyone else?

I'd be looking for another job.

Do you like your job?

If you think that on balance the job is worth putting up with this nonsense, then maybe just ignore it and simply not join in the active stuff like the social.

It is deeply unacceptable that companies plug this or any other agenda. They should just get on with their job.

I've been there five years and when I started I loved it.

Now, not at all. It grates so much that they're always pushing the political ideology / agenda (there are other things too).

I hate all the woke stuff. I find it performative, insincere and highly selective. And they're massive on DEI too.

I do need a new job. My work schedule does suit me though, I have a 2 year old. I don't think these hours are easy to find when you're looking for a new job outright. The company allowed me change when I came back from mat leave...

Same. Even working in a university isn't as bad as that.

What's a trans beer?

It’s a gin that identifies as a beer.

😂

The problem is that SOOOO many companies push this shit now. If they make your toilets mixed sex, or do something else that impacts you, and other women, personally, I’d complain. Otherwise I wouldn’t bother. Or if you want to make a point you could ask them to promote Detransitioners Awareness Day, or Lesbian Visibility Day.

All that shite can fuck right off to where it came from then fuck off some more.

Are they actually concerned about all areas of DEI/ equality? You could ask them about hiring people with disabilities or neuro diversities. Or how they are promoting opportunities in the company to those of Global Majorities. Bet there's nothing.

Another way to flog beer. Marketing the brewery as a trans friendly or trans supporting endeavour.

I know, they'll try anything...

You could ask in an innocent way about the planned celebrations for e.g. International Women's Day, International Men's Day, International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust,Global Day of Parents, International Day of Charity, World Food Day…

IANAL but I reckon they could be breaking the law because they are creating a hostile work environment for people with protected GC beliefs. You might want to take a look at this Sex Matters doc (Don't Get Caught Out) and perhaps create an anonymous email address and send it to senior members of staff to let them know that gender affirmative workplace culture can lead to unlawful harassment and discrimination.

https://sex-matters.org/posts/other-resources/dont-get-caught-out-a-summary-of-gender-critical-belief-discrimination-employment-tribunal-judgments/

I suspect it is Queer Brewing.

I'd love to you about a talk we were given in the not so distant past, but I'm worried it would be too outing. We're a paid up, dogmatically card-carrying member of a big DEI scheme. The type you have to jump through hoops to progress in. So then you can advertise what an amazingly diverse company you are.

They're big on the neuro diversity stuff, awareness, support and the like. Not sure if they walk the walk in the hiring department though.

When I started I had to do a survey/ questionnaire with all questions about my background. Multiple choice. Asked if I was an ethnic minority I noticed one glaring omission from the list: Jewish. I picked up on this one because my partner is Jewish. Also, my bosses know about my partner, and they've never once reached out to ask if my family are ok every time and antisemitic incident occurs (Manchester, Bondi Beach, last week's arson attack in GG etc.). That's why it all feels a bit selective. If you're outside of their golden circle, they don't care. But that's minor, I don't actually care, it's just the falling over themselves to seem compassionate and caring for some and not at all for others. You either care about people or you don't. That's why it seems cynical.

We have a young Persian lady at another office. I doubt anyone has been in touch to ask if she's alright. Again, it's so selective.

I have to admit that concept of trans day of visibility a bit odd. All the talk of passing, deadnaming, keeping GRCs secret etc and then suddenly it’s all about visibility -
like none of that matters.

Yes thank you! I have thought about doing this.

Really appreciate the link. Will take a look when I have moment.

I worked in a company once that had online training on "How to be an ally" - it was illustrated with menacing characters carrying trans flag coloured baseball bats and golf clubs!

WTF?

Just had a look at the Gendered Intelligence site, word salad overload, also quite a few of them seem to volunteer in children’s activities like swim coaching.

Oh jeez.

Yes I picked up on the word salad stuff. Talk about a grift.

wtf, isn't this stuff supposed to be on the way out? i understand if its' autistic people obsessed and it's going to be hard to get them off it, but this is idiot corporations pedalling it....

This was my question too 😂

Do you have anonymous staff surveys? If so you could let them know on there that it feels discriminatory towards protected GC beliefs, and also highlight anything that seems non-work-appropriate, which a lot of the stuff happening in these sorts of organisations does seem to be (e.g. talks about the euphemistic "gender euphoria", inappropriate work clothing, or employees discussing their "trans" children & how to get them on blockers are all examples I've heard of or encountered in workplaces...).

i think you have to be pragmatic in all things.
So the actual job is ok, and the hours suit your current situation? get on with it. But.

For eg: is the beer with or without alcohol? perhaps that is something you might want to address. Some people don't want to be confronted by cans of beer first thing in the morning for many and varied reasons. Is there some way you can address this without being hugely "anti-trans" and confrontational?

My mum has a fantastic mug with a picture of a sufragette being arrested which has a quote about wanting to end capitalism. Any way you could incorporate that kind of thing into your everyday life at work? (just for you, you know what it is, but it may not register with the Monitors Who Report Everything)

Are there other "days" coming up? specifically about things like disability or other of the DEI type of things that should be included but never are? can you flag those up to your team? (International Men's Day is a good one, it focuses on men's mental health)

Otherwise: head down, do your work, don't get sucked in, remain noncommittal and look for something else in whatever spare time you have.