Misgendering the handful of individuals who do not abide by the gender binary (male and female) has become the cause célèbre of the progressive left. In the United Kingdom, one of the largest teachers’ unions is demanding “gender diversity” training to be mandatory for all teachers and lecturers in schools throughout the nation.
According to the BBC, the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) warns of possible “legal issues” should teachers incorrectly address students (or other teachers) with incorrect gender pronouns, and is calling for teachers in sixth form colleges and higher education to undergo training.
Speaking on behalf of the organization, ATL Wales president Leslie Tipping claims that compulsory gender diversity training is long overdue because most teachers still haven’t gotten on with the program.
After all, it’s 2017 — and it’s necessary to respect someone’s demand to be referred to by “ze/hir,” “xe/xir,” and other unconventional terms. Even companies like Google have jumped on board the social justice bandwagon.
“Lecturers could be put in quite an embarrassing position if they address someone as a he who is a she or neither a he or a she,” said Tipping.
Tipping says that students who identify as transgender or non-binary gender identities are “entitled” to being referred to by the gender pronouns they prefer. On Tumblr, hundreds of different pronouns exist — and some individuals who identify as “genderfluid” even change their pronouns on a day-to-day basis.
“We are keen for lecturer training to understand legalities and ensure they’re not embarrassed in any way,” said Tipping, adding that staff who speak in error “could end up with legal issues.”
The BBC approached over a dozen colleges in Wales to seek a response regarding the demand. Three colleges responded to state that the institutions have seen an increase in students who identify as transgender, non-binary or genderfluid.
Two of the respondents, Cardiff, and Vale College, stated that their staff already received training that included “protected characteristics,” and that they were working with an organization called Trans*Form Cymru for further training. Coleg Cambria says its staff received training delivered by members of the transgender community, alongside guidance materials.
Ian Miles Cheong is a journalist and outspoken media critic. You can reach him through social media at @stillgray on Twitter.