Home Office chiefs have sparked anger by sending out an email reminding staff to celebrate Transgender Parents Day.
Shocked workers were informed that November 7 was the day ‘we celebrate all parents of transgender children’ – an event first marked in 2009 in the US as an alternative to the traditional Mother’s Day or Father’s Day.
The lengthy email, sent across the Government department’s computer system on November 5, also included a personal account by a mother whose son transitioned from male to female at 22.
It was sent by Caroline Wild, co-deputy chairwoman of the Home Office’s Spectrum Committee, which was set up to support the department’s LGBT+ staff. She is transgender, but also a parent.
She told staff: ‘Whilst Transgender Parents Day remains today as a non-official date in the LGBTI+ calendar, the fact that it is becoming known gives parents who are trans and the parents of trans children an opportunity on a personal level to celebrate that the bond of family endures the transitioning of one of its members.’
Home Office bosses angered staff by reminding them to Celebrate Transgender Parents Day
One Home Office employee said that it was quite distressing, particularly because the entire spirit of the email suggested that we should not celebrate families going through such difficult situations, while there are so many other families struggling with problems like encouraging their children to use hormone blockers. We get email telling us to be happy about such things, and that is just what sticks in our craws.
But one Home Office employee, struggling with the challenge of parenting a teenager who says they are transgender, criticised the email as ‘highly inappropriate’.
She said: ‘It bore no relevance to the work we do and nothing to do with the work of any branch of the Home Office.
‘This is a very subjective issue and it’s not an issue that everyone is going to be on board with.
‘Also, at the moment it’s an area that’s very political. This email makes you feel like someone has a agenda. We’ve had a few of these types of emails recently. We were sent something previously on “Asexual Day”.’
The worker said she was particularly incensed by the ‘celebratory’ nature of the email, adding: ‘Anyone who’s got any sense realises that these situations exist, but within the work arena at the Home Office it’s not the place to be dealing with issues that parents and families are struggling with.
‘It was quite triggering for me, especially because the whole spirit of the email is that we should be celebrating families going through this, when there are lots of families battling with issues such as children being encouraged to take puberty blockers. When we get emails telling us we should be happy about this sort of thing, that just sticks in the craw.’
The backlash came as it emerged the Home Office is one of the Government departments still signed up to Stonewall’s controversial diversity scheme for employers.
Widespread criticism has been levelled at the programme for creating workplace environments where transgender employees fear being dismissed or silenced.
Many high-profile government bodies, such as the BBC and Equality and Human Rights Commission, have resigned from the scheme due to the scandal. They are being reviewed by the Treasury, government departments responsible for health, education, and pensions.
A Home Office spokesman said: ‘To mark this internationally recognised day, an immigration enforcement officer outlined the support available from a number of organisations for young trans people and their families.’