Green Party Faces Backlash Over 'Inclusive Terminology Guidance'

The Green Party is facing criticism following the emergence of an 'inclusive terminology guidance' document for its members. The document reportedly suggests avoiding terms such as 'mothers and fathers', recommending 'parents and carers' as alternatives to be more inclusive of those who do not conform to traditional gender norms.

Sources indicate the guidance also advises against other gendered terms like 'policewoman' and 'chairman', and suggests 'global majority' in place of 'Bame' (Black and minority ethnic).

It also reportedly recommends avoiding 'transsexual' and 'homosexual', as these terms may not encompass non-binary individuals, despite the party's pro-trans stance.

The document, which was seen by The Spectator, acknowledges that 'it's OK to make mistakes from time to time' but warns that 'repeated or deliberate behaviour may be considered harassment, which is unlawful.' The guidance also includes a prohibition on using the word 'nutter' and other pejorative terms for individuals with mental health issues.

Author J.K. Rowling commented on the guidance, stating, 'Speaking as the elderly mother of three youngsters, who hasn't had a sex change and knows many homosexuals, it is my able-bodied and sexually-preferred opinion that the Greens are turning into total nutters.'

A spokesperson for the Green Party defended the document, stating: 'This is an existing and standard equalities training document, similar to those found in other organisations that also take equalities seriously. It is a guide and nothing else.'

This controversy follows recent accusations that the party encouraged members to report perceived transgressions by friends to officials, drawing comparisons to the East German Stasi. Training materials reportedly instructed activists to document instances of jokes or banter they found uncomfortable, including details like dates and times, to create a record for potential complaints.

The training also suggested members audit the racial diversity of their social circles to combat 'affinity bias'. An example presented involved activists observing 'derogatory jokes' about a Polish person's nationality, with the training emphasizing that such jokes are unacceptable under the party's code of conduct, while also noting the importance of addressing the underlying reasons why a joke might be perceived as funny.