Hi all,
Thanks for the replies, I really appreciate you all taking the time to post.
As people have said, my main reason for getting involved is to help out, and hopefully do some good for an organisation that I know has been beneficial to many of my friends.
On a personal note, I’d hope to improve my confidence and learn some new things.
As Big_g suggested, I’m going to try and make contact with some of the local squadrons, and see what reception I get. there is about a dozen within a 15 minute drive of me, so I’m sure I should find one of them welcoming.
Baldrick, I’d be interested to know what you mean about the dress regs- would you be kind enough to elaborate?
I’m sure he/she will be welcomed. I’d hope new members of staff are judged on their technical & leadership ability and their overall contribution to the ACO.
On a positive note (what with all of the negative stuff with no gliding and move to plastic commissions etc), it’ll be exciting to see how things work out now that we have Brexit and President Trump. Life is good after all! I hope post-Brexit Britain establishes a much more intimate relationship with the US, and I hope President Trump accepts our Nigel’s offer to become Ambassador to the EU.
Pretty much as everyone else, getting stuck in is key for all staff.
The only caveat is be open and don’t make an issue of it. Unfortunately I could see many visits and invites from the higher ups for a photo op and so on. They need something to divert attention away from their many failings.
I’m with the others. I don’t care who you are, as long as you’re in the organisation for the same reasons I am - to do the best for the cadets.
I’m guessing with that many squadrons around you, that you’re in London. Not that I necessarily agree, but being in a big city you are more likely to find people more accepting of those who are different, rather than being in a small town/large village somewhere.
On my sqn I do not have male and female toilets. I just have two toilets.
I’d HOPE that other staff would be reasonable and accommodating, but a look at this thread shows that some people have quite a long way to go. But I’m sure that if you pick carefully then you should be fine!
http://forum.aircadetcentral.net/t/lgbt/
Recently I was a bit miffed to receive a signal from the Army CoC on gender inclusiveness in the CCF: I replied immediately that I was prepared to do my bit but please could they stop WESTMINSTER insisting on a binary gender choice on enrolment… (IIRC BADER is the same.)
And yes, the dress regs are open to challenge. Some schools have made the headlines by simply stating there are two alternative uniforms but not saying who for. The University of Oxford did the same thing for academic dress a few years ago. Seems like a sensible compromise to me.
An ex cadet who is now in the Army reserves and has had two tours of sandy places had strong gender issues. As a cadet refused point blank to wear female clothing, ended up as one of the best CWO of her generation. There were no real issues. This was 15 years ago. He is now a full Cpl and has been in Soldier magazine having now identify as a man. If the Army can do it why does the cadets forces seem so hung up on labels
I have always felt that my wing was/is very tolerant with many cadets and a few staff BGBGT or what ever the mnemonic is. it is a shame that is appears not all are. Bad apples and all that.
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Crack on and don’t make an issue of it.
It GMG when someone turns round and says I’m this that or the other and wants special treatment.
I know a few lesbians and homosexuals and they just get on with their lives and don’t bang on about it. A couple of chaps who we know live have always lived together and it wasn’t until one of them got ill, that anyone was aware they weren’t just a couple of blokes living in the same house. Similarly we worked with a girl for years who was a lesbian and again no one knew, until we went to wedding and she was there with her other half. Mind you she was the ‘feminine’ one, ie not the “cropped hair and bovver boot” look, of her other half, which never looks good on a woman, IMO.
I know a vegan and she likes to let you know every time we see her, which is somewhat tiresome. If we go out for a meal and she’s there I like to order steak that will run bloody and mention it several times, with a smile as it never fails to wind her up.
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Quoted. Let him work it out himself folks.
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Get over yourself.
I must be a lesbian then as I am very attracted to women.
Don’t you think that kind of crass statement is offensive to homosexuals?
Aren’t most of his statements offensive to most people? Aren’t you glad he’s in a position if responsibility over young people?
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I know. A bit like the, “I’m not a racist but…”
Obviously GHE2 isn’t a racist so don’t get any panties in a knot people.
“I like gay people as long as I don’t know that they’re gay”
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No it doesn’t.
It’s a disputed issue, that effects less than 1% of the UK population.
Just because someone disagrees with it, doesn’t mean they are wrong. Christ, pantomimes are now considered offensive for god sake. When will you liberals wake up and start living in the real world.
I couldn’t care less if someone does whatever they like to themselves. What I disagree with is he normalisation of it, or involving children into it.
But there is only 2 biological genders. Gender is not a social construct. Transgender is a social construct.
Amphibians evolved the ability in certain groups to change sex in a same sex environment to ensure continuation of the gene pool.
Humans did not evolve this trait. Humans evolved for a male and a female to mate and continue the gene pool.
If humans had evolved as amphibians with the ability to change sex, then you could argue that gender is a social construct. But it’s not.
Transgender is still disputed in the medical world, there’s still a lot of research to be done. There is an increasing number of transgenders who have transitioned, who transition back and are disputing that transgender is a medical condition at all, rather than a pyscological one.
Just because a topic is found sensitive by a small number of people, doesn’t mean we can’t talk, ask questions or debate about it. Want people to understand? Give them the ability to talk, question and debate. People can not and will not agree on everything. Nor will ramming it down people’s throats and calling people bigots or whatever. That’s why brexit won, that’s why trump win, that’s why politics in Europe is taking a huge boost in popularity to right wing groups.
Normal ordinary people who were in the centre aren’t getting listened to, are fed up of being told what to think, what to say or what’s offensive. That’s why the regressive left has taken a huge blow this year.
To the original poster, I couldn’t care if you identify as the opposite sex, or an attack helicopter. I care if you are a good instructor, role model and person. That’s what matters.
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He’s quoting a line I’ve heard from comedy sketches / stand ups (including some alternative / leftie luvvies) which on reading is how I took it. Probably not something to say out loud in some quarters, but I don’t think many of the LGBT population would take offence and in most instances ignore it. Some that we know would play up to it and embarrass whoever said it and put them in their place, I’ve watched them do it and I felt sorry for the poor blokes who said what they did as they didn’t quite know how to react to what happened.
I don’t quite know where some of the people on here live or what TV etc they watch, but I find it very difficult to be offended, but then I was a chubby, bespectacled child and went through a torrent of bullying and general name calling etc as a child when the attitude wasn’t as it is now wrt bullying so you had to learn to ignore it or go under.
The line “I’m not a racist, but …” applies to all NIMBYs. I like the notion of nuclear power stations but I wouldn’t want to live near one, I like the idea of HS rail, housing estates and new roads but I don’t want them near me.
As RAS suggests having people of all race, religion, creed and persuasions in the organisation can only be good for the organisation, as long as they are in it for the right reasons and they and or the SLT don’t try to play on it (which I wouldn’t trust the latter not to), as it breaks down the perceptions from the outside and be role models for similarly ‘minded’ kids. It’s not what you are, think or say, it’s what you do that is important. People say things for effect (I remember he reaction when Johnny Rotten swore in a prime time interview and the homosexual and lesbian kisses) just to see how far people can be pushed. I remember when swearing on TV was a late night only, but now after people pushed the boundaries it’s commonplace on TV and in films many rated for young teens and almost acceptable on TV anytime of the day. I remember Saturday Night Fever was given an X because it had swearing in it, which was a real draw to us young teenagers to see.
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Wait, are you saying that you don’t want to live near black people? Or is it gay people you don’t want in your ‘back yard’?
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I’m sorry to sound offensive, but until there is genuine equality in the corps then I do see an issue with how we define cadets ie Male or Female.
Sports teams - at Squadron Wing, Region, Corps level are split Male and Female. ACPs are gender specific, APs are gender specific, activities are gender specific, accomodation is gender specific.
It’s not about the views of staff either, its about the views of everyone involved. 17 year old male identifies as female - are the cadets, the parents, the carers etc happy with said cadet sharing accommodation and ablutions with 12 year old female cadets?
Until HQAC publishes clear guidance on such issues we are in a very grey area. No where on any form in the ACO have I seen the question “Self Identified Gender” yet every form asks for Gender.
I think any such guidance needs to be cadet force wide and really needs to be in JSP 814. We have no real guidance in the ACF either.