Customers of Halifax have threatened to terminate their accounts in response to the company’s ‘nonsense’ decision to add pronouns to the name badges of its employees.
The move, which the bank stated would be voluntary for personnel, was revealed yesterday on Twitter.
Pronouns matter was posted with the hashtag “ItsAPeopleThing” and a picture of a female employee’s name badge with the words “she/her/hers” in brackets underneath.
Some consumers criticized the change right once and stated that they wished to terminate their accounts.
One wrote: ‘For a moment there, I was hoping this was a joke photo on a parody account, then I saw the verified tick now I’m thinking I should close my Halifax account and take my money elsewhere.’
Another simply asked: ‘How do I close my account?’
The critical tweets prompted the bank to defend its new policy by responding to the tweets. It said in one post: ‘We strive for inclusion, equality and quite simply, in doing what’s right. If you disagree with our values, you’re welcome to close your account.’
Customers who wished to close their accounts were told by the bank that they either phone them or submit a written request.
Another critic questioned the validity of using pronouns while “things like climate change and war” are taking place.
In a direct response to the tweet, Halifax wrote: “We want to provide a secure and tolerant workplace that enables the discourse surrounding gender identification,” written by staff member “Dave.”
‘We care about our customers and colleagues’ individual preferences, for us, it’s a very simple solution to accidental misgendering.’
A fourth person said that after viewing the new policy, they had already cancelled their account.
Some Twitter users, though, supported the decision.
Thank you for being inclusive, one person remarked. Although I’m sorry they had to deal with the transphobes, your social media crew is doing a fantastic job.
The decision by Halifax is being contested by transgender athletes who compete in sports.
Earlier this week, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said there is a difference between being a woman and a trans woman and said that someone ‘cannot be born with a penis without being a man.’
The bank defended its new policy in response to the criticism in response to the tweets. We aim for inclusivity, equality, and, to put it simply, doing what’s right, it said in one of the posts. You are free to close your account if you don’t agree with our beliefs.
The international governing body for swimming, Fina, said last week that it was altering its rules so that transgender women would only be permitted to compete in the organization’s female events if they had finished their transition by the age of 12.
Nadine Dorries, the culture secretary, also said at a conference of governing organizations that pitting women and teenage girls against biological men was “inherently unjust.”
She did support the introduction of new “open categories” that would let transgender women compete in both gender-neutral sports and against males.
The BBC also refused to bow down to pro-trans activists’ demands that Sharron Davies be fired from her position as host of this summer’s Commonwealth Games.
The former Olympic swimmer has advocated for the exclusion of transgender women from participation in women’s sports.
She has endured harassment for her opposition to the demands of campaigners, including threats of murder.