The Cabinet Office has ditched a trans-activist group’s radical gender ideology training sessions following complaints they were “tantamount to bullying”.
Women’s Rights Network sent a series of complaints from civil servants about the a:gender group’s sessions to Cabinet Office leaders, including reports that the trainer claimed that those who uphold the reality of biological sex are “devious” and “not qualified to give an opinion”. MPs such as Sir Robert Buckland also spoke to ministers about the sessions after being contacted by constituents.
A Government spokesperson has confirmed that the voluntary sessions have now been paused pending review to ensure they meet impartiality standards, stating: “We are absolutely clear that the rights and voices of women must not be infringed”.
‘Nonsensical’
One civil servant said the content was “scientifically so nonsensical and bizarre”, while another found it “awful and upsetting”.
They reported that the sessions presented claims that a person can change their biological sex “as fact”, and taught that refusing to use the label “cisgender” is a “dogwhistle” for transphobia.
inaccurate and offensive information in the guise of training
Heather Binning, founder of Women’s Rights Network, commented: “We welcome the fact that the Cabinet Office has listened to the concerns that women raised.
“Civil servants should not be given inaccurate and offensive information in the guise of training, and public money should not be spent on furthering a political agenda. Gender ideology is particularly harmful to women and girls and does not belong in any official institution.”
‘Sex matters’
Last month, a new civil service forum was launched to help civil servants exercise their freedom of thought, conscience and religion.
The Sex Equality and Equity Network (SEEN) is committed to protecting the belief that “biological sex is binary and immutable” and that “biological sex matters for both women and men in our everyday lives”.
SEEN membership is open to all UK civil servants and public sector staff – from central government departments, agencies, and their associated public bodies, including arm’s length bodies.
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