Green Party's 'Inclusive Terminology' Guidance Sparks Controversy

The Green Party has faced criticism for an 'inclusive terminology guidance' document that reportedly suggests members avoid terms such as 'mother and father' and 'nutter.' The document, intended to promote inclusivity and avoid alienating individuals who do not conform to gender norms, recommends using phrases like 'parents and carers' instead of 'mother and father.' It also advises against gendered terms like 'policewoman' or 'chairman' and suggests 'global majority' over 'BAME' (Black and minority ethnic).

The guidance also reportedly cautions against using 'transsexual' and 'homosexual' to be more inclusive of non-binary individuals. The document acknowledges that mistakes can happen but warns that repeated or deliberate behavior may be considered harassment. Terms pejorative to those with mental health issues, such as 'nutter' and 'lunatic,' are also flagged for avoidance.

J.K. Rowling, author and women's rights campaigner, 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, describing it as 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 guidance follows reports that the party has also been accused of encouraging members to report perceived infractions of jokes and banter among friends to officials, an approach some have likened to the East German Stasi. Diversity training materials reportedly instructed Green activists to audit the race of their social circles and create more diverse groups to combat 'affinity bias.'

The training materials also suggested that activists document incidents, including dates and times, if they overhear jokes they find uncomfortable, to create a record for potential complaints. While emphasizing that note-taking "shouldn't replace immediate action," the guidance used an example of derogatory jokes about a Polish person's nationality made in a meeting. The official delivering the training reportedly encouraged attendees to consider why a joke might be offensive, rather than simply acting as 'joke police.'