Perth: A Perth workplace has been thrust into the spotlight after a 63-year-old employee was dismissed for misgendering a non-binary colleague during a leadership course early this year. The man referred to the colleague as “he” instead of “they,” prompting immediate correction from another participant. Although he apologised, the matter escalated quickly, with the colleague’s pronoun preference displayed on a badge for clarity as stated by SkyNews Australia. Photo credits: DailyMail
Apology Refused and Job Lost
Management later informed the man that a formal complaint had been lodged and requested a written apology. He refused, insisting that no employee should be compelled to use pronouns against their will. The standoff divided the workplace, with younger colleagues siding with the non-binary worker. By March, despite the company having no formal pronoun policy, an investigation was launched, and his employment was terminated.
Conciliation Behind Closed Doors
The man challenged his dismissal, initially preparing to take the matter to the Federal Court. The dispute was shifted into a confidential Fair Work Commission conciliation, where he was warned that pursuing the case publicly could expose him to “violent social backlash.” He eventually accepted a confidential settlement with his former employer, later stating he felt “bullied into accepting a position on gender politics.”
Law, Rights and Identity
Since 2013, the Sex Discrimination Act has prohibited unfair treatment based on gender identity, sexual orientation, or relationship status. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, around 0.9 per cent of Australians aged 16 and over identify as transgender or gender diverse. The Perth case underscores the tensions between inclusivity, legal protections, and freedom of expression within the workplace.
Wider Gender Debate Intensifies
The dispute has unfolded alongside the high-profile Tickle v Giggle case, in which transgender woman Roxanne Tickle is suing the women-only networking app Giggle and its founder, Sall Grover, for alleged discrimination. Grover, who is appealing a 2024 ruling against her, criticised the Perth outcome as “another example of Australians having their rights destroyed because of gender ideology.” She added: “An ideology that is so nonsensical, it can only be imposed by force. No one has an instinct to call a man ‘she’ or a woman ‘he’ or anyone else ‘they,’ ‘zir,’ or any of the other absurd words that have been created. Call yourself whatever you want. But you should not be able to force your personal identity upon anyone else.” The case has attracted international attention, including public support for Grover from Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling.