Gender critical lesbian discriminated against by local authority
Gender critical lesbian discriminated against by local authority
This case is raising funds for its stretch target. Your pledge will be collected within the next 24-48 hours (and it only takes two minutes to pledge!)
Latest: March 17, 2024
We now have a Court date!
Firstly I'd like to thank you all again for the support you have given to the case and therefore to me. It has been agreed that the case will go forward, this is excellent news!
The fi…
Read moreI am a social worker, and a lesbian who believes that sex is real, and matters. Sex matters particularly to me as a woman who is exclusively sexually attracted to women. I do not believe that men can literally become women.
When I sought to participate in meetings of a workplace LGBTQIA group and expressed my “gender critical” belief, I was subjected to a group complaint by colleagues followed by a disciplinary process resulting in formal “management action” designed to silence me. I was also excluded from the network. The whole process was intensely stressful and humiliating for me. It left me feeling that my colleagues and my employer regarded me as a bigot who could only be tolerated in the workplace if I was forced to keep my beliefs to myself even when they were relevant.
I am aware of colleagues that share my view but are too afraid to speak out.
This kind of silencing and bullying is happening in local authorities, schools, colleges, universities, NHS trusts etc, up and down the country. A false consensus is imposed through a climate of fear. This has serious consequences for the way professionals like social workers, clinicians, teachers and others do their jobs - and serious consequences for the safeguarding of some of the most vulnerable in society.
It needs to stop. Will you help me to stop it?
I’m suing my employer, Cambridgeshire County Council (CCC), in the employment tribunal for harassment and discrimination. Employers won’t learn that this kind of behaviour is unacceptable unless they can see other employers being found liable by a tribunal and having to pay compensation. If you donate money to help me run this case, I understand that you’re doing so much more for the sake of that public example than to help me personally. I promise to give that fact full weight in any decision I make about settlement, and I promise I won’t settle on confidential terms unless I truly feel I have no alternative.
I am initially raising funds for legal representation for the Preliminary Hearing. The target for this stage of proceedings is £17,500.
I have a great legal team!
My Solicitor Liz McGlone, Partner at Didlaw, who specialises in Employment Law.
My Barrister Naomi Cunningham, Outer Temple Chambers, who specialises in Employment and Discrimination law
Please donate, if you can, and please circulate widely.
Your support would be greatly appreciated.
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Lizzy Pitt
March 17, 2024
We now have a Court date!
Firstly I'd like to thank you all again for the support you have given to the case and therefore to me. It has been agreed that the case will go forward, this is excellent news!
The final hearing is set up for five days from the 29th July- 2nd August this year and will be in Cambridge.
I now have to return to the Crowd Funder and continue to ask for support, I find this difficult although know its importance.
Please could I ask that you contribute if you can-I know this is a big ask, and please if you can share as widely as you can I would be very grateful.
I'm so thankful for the cases that have gone before mine and know that we must keep fighting.
What should lawfully give us protections: the seminal Forstater v CGD has yet to become understood and embedded by many employers. My intention is that this case will further the understanding of the law and hopefully mean that fewer people will be harrassed and discriminated against in the workplace - the purpose of this case.
Thank you again for any support you are able to offer.
Lizzy Pitt
Feb. 26, 2024
We now have a preliminary Court date!
Hello everybody, firstly I'd like to thank you all again for the amazing support you have given!
It's coming up to 5 months! which is a long time to wait for a preliminary hearing date. However the date has been confirmed and the case is listed for the 8th March 2024. The purpose of the preliminary hearing is to identify the legal and factual issues the tribunal will be asked to decide. To list the case for hearing, if appropriate, and to make any further case management orders if needed going forward.
I will update as soon as I have further information and once again I thank you all for your support.
Lizzy Pitt
Nov. 3, 2023
We now have the funds to support me through the preliminary hearing- thank you!
Firstly, I'd like to thank everybody so much for your support, the fund has met and exceeded its first target because of the fantastic response from you all! I am truly grateful.
We now have the funds to support me through a Preliminary Hearing as and when it is listed. The claim has just been accepted and we now await the response from the Council. I will update you when we have a date for the Preliminary Hearing.
I see this case as another example of where employees working in the public sector are being silenced to such an extent that it impacts our work, compromises our professionalism and in contravention of the protections afforded under the Equality Act 2010. I feel I have no other choice but to pursue this claim to shine a light on the treatment that public sector workers face in relation to the protection of their beliefs and also sexual orientation.
I would be so grateful if you could continue to donate and share where you are able, and that you do so in the context of the case being for the benefit of all workers and especially those in the public sector.
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