Texas City Employees Face Termination for Not Using Preferred Pronouns

Employees of the City of Dallas, Texas, are at risk of losing their jobs if they fail to use people’s preferred pronouns, according to recently disclosed documents.

A document titled “Workplace Gender Transition Protocols & FAQ” details the city’s expectations for how its employees should interact with transgender individuals.

The guidelines emphasize that “gender transition” encompasses a spectrum of situations, all of which receive equal protection.

The document explains, “Transition may include ‘coming out’ (telling family, friends, and coworkers), changing the name and/or sex on legal documents, and/or accessing medical treatment such as hormones and/or surgery.”

According to the guidelines, city employees are “expected to respectfully use the transitioning employee’s preferred name and pronouns, regardless of whether or not they ‘believe in,’ approve of, or accept an individual’s right to be transgender or undergo a gender transition.”

It further states, “An employee has the right to be addressed by the name and pronoun of their choice. Our addressing the employee by their chosen pronoun is a sign of respect for them as an individual.”

The document asserts that intentionally using incorrect names or pronouns that do not correspond to an employee’s gender identity is considered discrimination and harassment.

Non-compliance with the city’s protocol can result in internal investigations and “may be disciplined up to and including termination.”.

Do you think someone should be fired for not using preferred pronouns?

The City of Dallas commented on whether religious convictions could excuse employees from following the guidelines.

“The City of Dallas is a safe and welcoming place for all residents and employees. The City prohibits discrimination and harassment of employees based on a protected category including race, color, age, religion, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic characteristics, national origin, disability, and military or veteran status,” the City told Fox News Digital.

“Violations of these long-standing policies may result in disciplinary action,” the city added. However, the statement did not clarify how the city handles situations where gender identity and religious convictions intersect.

Forcing people to accept and participate in other people’s fantasies is criminal plain and simple, end of story. What is in the water in Dallas?

— Steve Reid (@iSteveReid) June 2, 2023

The city government referred to the workplace conduct document as a “toolkit” and attributed its development to the City’s Office of Equity.

“The toolkit […] is a draft of guidelines developed by the City’s Office of Equity and Inclusion with input from Human Resources staff to address the needs of transgender and gender nonconforming employees and provide guidance to supervisors and managers on how to protect the rights and safety of such employees.”

Additionally, the document recommends that supervisors seek the counsel of transgender employees to determine appropriate responses and disciplinary actions for coworkers who fail to adhere to the guidelines.

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