British doctor angry after being fired for refusing to use trans patients’ preferred pronouns
Doctor cited his religious beliefs as reason for using to use correct pronouns, in violation of British law
A doctor in the United Kingdom is not happy that he was fired after refusing to use transgender patients’ preferred pronouns.
Dr. David Mackereth, who cited his religion in refusing to use preferred pronouns, said he was terminated as a medical assessor at the Department of Work and Pensions three weeks ago, with DWP ending his career to avoid a discrimination lawsuit under the 2010 Equality Act. Mackereth will no longer be able to hold a government or National Health Service job again.
Mackereth said that getting fired was worth it because calling his patients by their requested pronouns was against his religion.
“As a Christian, I believe gender is determined biologically and genetically,” he told the Daily Mail. “I knew it could be the end of my work as a doctor, but I could not live with myself if I didn’t speak up. It would be dishonest — and I didn’t want to live a lie.”
The doctor said that after he protested a rule that he respect trans patients’ pronouns, his manager brought him into a meeting and asked: “If a man asked him to call you ‘Mrs.,’ would you do it?”
“I said I couldn’t,” Mackereth said. “If somebody has male XY chromosomes and male genitalia, I cannot in good conscience call them a woman. We agreed I wouldn’t come into work until the DWP had decided what would happen to me.”
Mackereth said his views on gender dysmorphia are based in religion and not actual science. He also believes his denial of transgender pronouns is a matter of freedom of speech.
“I believe with all my heart that God made us male and female and that I should be allowed to believe this,” he said. “I’m not out to upset anyone.”
Despite refusing to respect trans’ patients, Mackereth said he cares “deeply” about transgender people, “but we must be able to say what we think and defend what we believe in a non-combative way.”
The doctor’s remarks come after a majority of LGBTQ people in the U.K. said they are afraid to come out due to fear of judgment or negative reaction to their sexuality or gender identity. In response, the government is allocating $6 million to make the country more inclusive for LGBTQ people, including banning conversion therapy.
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