by Alan Jacques
THE Red Ribbon Project is urging transgender people and migrants in Limerick not to shop at Tesco in Arthur’s Quay because of what they describe as “a transphobic and racist working environment.”
The Davis Street-based charity, working in the areas of sexual health, sexual orientation and gender identity, was responding to the announcement that Tesco is investigating claims that customers were subjected to harassment and cyberbullying by staff at the Arthur’s Quay store.
Transgender and non-nationals were among customers targeted in a year-long Facebook campaign with mocking comments, photographs and videos posted on the social media site by Tesco employees.
According to the Red Ribbon statement, Tesco customers at Arthur’s Quay Shopping Centre were “subjected to clandestine and abusive behaviour from staff. Photographs, taken while they were shopping, were posted on staff members’ personal Facebook pages alongside blatantly phobic remarks. This has been happening for over a year and points to a transphobic and racist working environment.
“Many of our Trans* group members have experienced difficulties in Tesco and in Arthur’s Quay. We have had multiple reports of discriminatory and disrespectful behaviour from security staff towards our members and we know of at least one person who is in the process of taking legal action. Trans* people have been thrown out of the shop, asked to be ‘less obvious’, refused entry into toilets and treated with what can only be described as disdain.”
The charity explained that ‘Trans*’ is an all-inclusive term used to describe people who exist outside of the gender binary.
“We urge Trans* people and migrants to shop elsewhere as it appears Tesco may not be safe for people who wish to maintain their dignity. We suggest that families and friends of Trans* people and migrants challenge this as openly as possible. Transphobia, homophobia and racism are all considered hate crimes and can eb reported to An Garda Siochana.”
Karen, a Tans* woman from Limerick, said she had to stop using Tesco and Arthur’s Quay around two months ago because of the harassment and ridicule she faced from staff.
“When I went there, I was treated as if I was a circus freak show, used for voyeuristic pleasures. Staff refuse to use the term ‘she’ to describe me in conversation. I have been able to challenge this with individual staff, but I have definitely heard male members of security refer to me as a ‘tranny’,” Karen claimed.
“My experience as a customer is undermined. I am belittled and frequently joked about, sometimes to my face. When staff talk to me, they comment in a way that makes me feel less than human, less than equal. On more than one occasion I have been singled out and harassed by staff because of my gender expression,” she claimed.
Tesco apologised last week for any offence that may have been caused by the conduct of their employees.
“Treating our customers with respect and offering them the best possible service is one of the fundamental values of Tesco,” the supermarket retailer commented.
