Trans row eupts as Scottish father-of-three SACKED for refusing to call male prisoners ‘she’ and ‘her’ – ‘Gender mania!’
A British Army veteran was sacked as a prison custody officer for refusing to call male-born transgender inmates “she” or “her”.
David Toshack, 50, has kicked off legal proceedings against his former employer, a major UK security contractor, after being dismissed for standing his ground.
The former soldier had been attending a mandatory training session for a job with GEOAmey at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court.
During a safeguarding session, he said he felt uncomfortable addressing male-born transgender prisoners as “she” or “her” – and said that men cannot become women.
Company management hit back, saying his words violated GEOAmey’s policies – and fired him before he took up the job.
Toshack went on to file claims of unlawful discrimination and harassment based on his beliefs, and is taking his would-be employers to a tribunal.
|
David Toshack stood his ground at training session for a job with GEOAmey at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court (pictured)
GETTY |
Management told the father that using trans prisoners’ chosen pronouns was mandatory ‘because this is the law and the policy of GEOAmey’
The father-of-three, who served over 10 years in the Army’s medical reserves, told the Mail how his background set him up for the role.
Toshack, a Christian, said his stance is based on both belief and biological fact.
“I’m not some kind of pious, religious zealot, I’m just a normal person who goes to church. But calling a man a woman is just a lie; it’s not based in science. It’s not based on biology. It’s not based in reality,” he vowed.
Now, the 50-year-old is determined to pursue his case.
Employment solicitor Margaret Gribbon, who also represents NHS Fife nurse Sandie Peggie in her ongoing tribunal, has taken on Toshack’s case with support from the Free Speech Union.
PA |
Sandie Peggie’s lawyer Margaret Gribbon has taken on Toshack’s case with support from the Free Speech Union
Fraser Hudghton, Director of the FSU’s Scotland branch, described the case as symptomatic of widespread “gender mania”.
“This case is a symptom of the gender mania which is so ingrained some can’t even tell you whether they are a man or a woman when asked directly,” he blasted.
While policy analyst Dr Kath Murray from Murray Blackburn Mackenzie said: “Requiring prison officers to refer to male offenders as women shows how far an organisation whose core business is managing risk related to sex has lost sight of material reality.
“It is also an egregious example of compelled speech.
“Failing to understand that employees are protected on the basis of both ‘gender critical’ and religious belief means that more and more employers are ending up in employment tribunals. GEOAmey is not the first and will not the last.”
GEOAmey refused to comment, saying: “As this matter will be subject to tribunal proceedings, it would not be appropriate to comment at this time.”
