The Cabinet Office has scrapped a number of gender inclusion workshops after receiving complaints from civil servants that the sessions were “scientifically nonsensical”.
The sessions were run by a:gender, who describe themselves as a “network supporting all trans and intersex staff across Government” and carried out across several Whitehall departments.
They have now been scrapped over concerns about the content discussed in them.
A letter was sent by the Women’s Rights Network and claimed that rights of women and lesbians were being “overridden” and that “beliefs” like a human being able to change their sex “were presented as fact”.
The complaint went on to claim that trainers in the sessions said people who didn’t accept gender identity were “devious” and not “qualified to give an opinion”.
The letter also featured testimonies from civil servants, one who said they left the session “shaking with distress” because it was “scientifically so nonsensical and bizarre”.
Others words used to describe the workshops included “upsetting”, “preachy” and “bullying”.
Responding, the Cabinet Office said “following discussions with a:gender, the workshops have stopped and are no longer being offered to civil service colleagues”.
A Government spokesperson told The Telegraph: "The workshop, which was voluntary, has been stopped and we are reviewing its contents to ensure they meet impartiality requirements. We are absolutely clear that the rights and voices of women must not be infringed."
A letter was sent by the Women’s Rights Network and claimed that rights of women and lesbians were being “overridden”
Dominic Lipinski
