A woman who says she was forced out of a UK fire service for her gender critical views has told GB News she feels "humiliated" after a "witch-hunt" saw her ousted from her position.
Andrea Pieri, a former employee of Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service says she faced hounding allegations and an investigation into gross misconduct after requesting an order involving Norwich Pride be handed to another member of staff, due to her views.
The order included agreeing to a "Pride Allies Pledge", which requires a "commitment to support and advocate for the LGBTQ+ community", which can be made by individuals, businesses, or organisations.
Speaking exclusively to GB News, Pieri said that her manager was willing to accommodate her wish, but she was called into a meeting with HR just days later.
Pieri explained: "I said to my manager, I've had this order for Norwich Pride come in, and due to my gender critical views, I don't feel comfortable having my name against this order as it is. Is there any possibility that this could please be assigned to someone else?
"And he was fine about it. However, a couple of days later, I was called into a meeting with HR." Pieri says that she later found out another individual at the Fire Service had escalated a complaint to senior leadership and HR.
In the meeting, which Pieri described as "not tea and biscuits", she told GB News it was insinuated that her views were "homophobic".
Pieri insisted this was not the case, and her views were based on fears about transgender ideology entering pride events.
Pieri said: "The insinuation was that I was homophobic, and I explained that it's precisely because of my opposition to homophobia that I have moral objections to Norwich Pride.
"Gay people have been kicked out of pride events in the past. Nancy Kelly, the CEO of Stonewall, has described lesbians as 'sexual racists' for not wanting to sleep with men. There's a whole plethora of issues in terms of gender ideology, indoctrinating children, sterilising children, and invading women's single sex spaces."
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
Following the meeting, Pieri said that a "letter of expectations" was issued alongside another meeting with members of the EDI (Equality, Diversity and Inclusion) team, where she was once again "grilled about her beliefs" on gender.
Considered a "top performer" in her team, Pieri was told that the meeting was about her "performance" at work.
She was instead subjected to a "humiliating" and "intrusive" sit down with some of the EDI representatives.
She told GB News: "I essentially had to explain my whole reasoning, my political views, and my moral objections to pride. And it just felt very intrusive and quite humiliating as I don't talk about my politics and my views at work.
"The only reason it came out, that I was gender critical, was because I asked for the possibility of the Pride order to be assigned to someone else. So I had that meeting where I was essentially grilled about my beliefs and I was still being hounded. It was quite patronising and condescending - I remember thinking to myself, 'you've heard everything that I've had to say - why do you want me to repeat myself?'"
After the situation had "died down", Pieri was then informed months later that a formal investigation was to be carried out against her for allegedly "breaching the letter of expectations", which she says left her "completely dumbfounded".
Pieri said: "As far as I was aware, that letter of expectations was to do with these Pride orders, and I hadn't been asked to raise any. I was informed that this is a level three investigation, which is the highest form of investigation and could potentially result in dismissal. It was like the rug being absolutely pulled from underneath me.
"I was being investigated for gross misconduct; in that I had displayed discriminatory behaviour in the workplace. And again, I was just tearing my brain inside out because I couldn't even so much as recall any arguments that I had with anyone, let alone discriminatory behaviour. I've never discriminated against anyone in my life."
Highlighting the impact on her mental health, Pieri detailed how she became depressed and suffered with "intrusive thoughts" during the investigation period.
She explained: "I was going out of my mind at this point. This made me very ill, very depressed - I was essentially being treated as a pariah. I'd spent all that time in the organisation building such a good reputation, I was always the person people would go to for help - even people who'd been in the organisation longer than me.
"I was always praised for the quality of my work, and it seemed as if all of that was taken away just like that."
Pieri was then suspended following the investigation - however, she claims she was then informed that the scope of the investigation had "widened" after the Fire Service sought to investigate her online posts as she was suspected of a "potential breach of their social media policy" and she had "potentially put the organisation into disrepute".
Discussing the posts, which consisted of "likes and reposts" of a gender critical nature, she told GB News: "It just felt so intrusive. When it eventually came to my investigation meeting, they had printed out every single one of my tweets and I was asked to explain them.
"I retweeted a post that said 'lesbians don't like d***', and I was asked to explain that. I just thought, isn't that self-explanatory? Isn't that what a lesbian is? They're biological women that are not sexually attracted to men.
"I had to explain posts about straight men pretending to be women, infiltrating lesbian spaces such as dating apps and events, pressuring women to sleep with them. And the professional standards person asked me, 'are you referring to men or trans women?' And I just said men because let's face it, they're all men."
Upon being informed of other allegations made against her by colleagues, Pieri stated that they were a "pack of lies", and believed at that point that her relationship with an employer that she was previously proud to have been associated with had "irrevocably broken down".
She claims: "I was told that discriminatory behaviour in the workplace had not been proven as all my colleagues had been interviewed. However, by that point I felt the relationship with my employer had irrevocably broken down and I just wanted to get out of there. From the first incident, they wanted me out at that point.
"And having that letter of expectations put on my record is almost like a chink in the armour, like as a prelude to try and get rid of me. I'd been in the organisation for three-and-a-half-years and not a single blemish on my record. It was only once I'd raised my head above the parapet and identified myself as gender critical, all of this happened. This was 100 per cent a witch hunt."
Discussing her next steps, Pieri stressed how the impact of the investigation has left her reputation in "tatters", and fears she may not secure another job.
She told GB News that she is currently attending counselling after the ordeal left a "huge knock on her self-esteem" - she is also considering legal action.
Pieri concluded: "I really did love that job and I worked so hard, and it feels like my reputation has been left in tatters. I am applying for other jobs now, but at the back of my mind, I'm worried in terms of referencing what will come up, if I might have job offers withdrawn as I've now got gross misconduct on my record, and the whole thing seems grossly unfair."
In a statement, a Norfolk Fire & Rescue spokesperson said: "We do not comment on individual cases of misconduct, and Ms Pieri left the organisation whilst an investigation was ongoing.
"Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service is an inclusive organisation and employer, and we strive for the highest possible standards of conduct and professionalism. We take all allegations of misconduct very seriously, and will investigate any breaches and take appropriate action where required."
Find Out More...
Andrea Pieri, a former employee of Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service says she faced hounding allegations and an investigation into gross misconduct after requesting an order involving Norwich Pride be handed to another member of staff, due to her views.
The order included agreeing to a "Pride Allies Pledge", which requires a "commitment to support and advocate for the LGBTQ+ community", which can be made by individuals, businesses, or organisations.
Speaking exclusively to GB News, Pieri said that her manager was willing to accommodate her wish, but she was called into a meeting with HR just days later.
Pieri explained: "I said to my manager, I've had this order for Norwich Pride come in, and due to my gender critical views, I don't feel comfortable having my name against this order as it is. Is there any possibility that this could please be assigned to someone else?
"And he was fine about it. However, a couple of days later, I was called into a meeting with HR." Pieri says that she later found out another individual at the Fire Service had escalated a complaint to senior leadership and HR.
In the meeting, which Pieri described as "not tea and biscuits", she told GB News it was insinuated that her views were "homophobic".
Pieri insisted this was not the case, and her views were based on fears about transgender ideology entering pride events.
Pieri said: "The insinuation was that I was homophobic, and I explained that it's precisely because of my opposition to homophobia that I have moral objections to Norwich Pride.
"Gay people have been kicked out of pride events in the past. Nancy Kelly, the CEO of Stonewall, has described lesbians as 'sexual racists' for not wanting to sleep with men. There's a whole plethora of issues in terms of gender ideology, indoctrinating children, sterilising children, and invading women's single sex spaces."
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
- Female gym owner attacked for banning trans people from 'single-sex space for biological women'
- 'Don't be straight, white or male!' BBC pays senior managers from diverse backgrounds more money
- NHS guide blasted as 'nonsensical' after staff told to treat trans colleagues with beards 'as women'
Following the meeting, Pieri said that a "letter of expectations" was issued alongside another meeting with members of the EDI (Equality, Diversity and Inclusion) team, where she was once again "grilled about her beliefs" on gender.
Considered a "top performer" in her team, Pieri was told that the meeting was about her "performance" at work.
She was instead subjected to a "humiliating" and "intrusive" sit down with some of the EDI representatives.
She told GB News: "I essentially had to explain my whole reasoning, my political views, and my moral objections to pride. And it just felt very intrusive and quite humiliating as I don't talk about my politics and my views at work.
"The only reason it came out, that I was gender critical, was because I asked for the possibility of the Pride order to be assigned to someone else. So I had that meeting where I was essentially grilled about my beliefs and I was still being hounded. It was quite patronising and condescending - I remember thinking to myself, 'you've heard everything that I've had to say - why do you want me to repeat myself?'"
After the situation had "died down", Pieri was then informed months later that a formal investigation was to be carried out against her for allegedly "breaching the letter of expectations", which she says left her "completely dumbfounded".
Pieri said: "As far as I was aware, that letter of expectations was to do with these Pride orders, and I hadn't been asked to raise any. I was informed that this is a level three investigation, which is the highest form of investigation and could potentially result in dismissal. It was like the rug being absolutely pulled from underneath me.
"I was being investigated for gross misconduct; in that I had displayed discriminatory behaviour in the workplace. And again, I was just tearing my brain inside out because I couldn't even so much as recall any arguments that I had with anyone, let alone discriminatory behaviour. I've never discriminated against anyone in my life."
Highlighting the impact on her mental health, Pieri detailed how she became depressed and suffered with "intrusive thoughts" during the investigation period.
She explained: "I was going out of my mind at this point. This made me very ill, very depressed - I was essentially being treated as a pariah. I'd spent all that time in the organisation building such a good reputation, I was always the person people would go to for help - even people who'd been in the organisation longer than me.
"I was always praised for the quality of my work, and it seemed as if all of that was taken away just like that."
Pieri was then suspended following the investigation - however, she claims she was then informed that the scope of the investigation had "widened" after the Fire Service sought to investigate her online posts as she was suspected of a "potential breach of their social media policy" and she had "potentially put the organisation into disrepute".
Discussing the posts, which consisted of "likes and reposts" of a gender critical nature, she told GB News: "It just felt so intrusive. When it eventually came to my investigation meeting, they had printed out every single one of my tweets and I was asked to explain them.
"I retweeted a post that said 'lesbians don't like d***', and I was asked to explain that. I just thought, isn't that self-explanatory? Isn't that what a lesbian is? They're biological women that are not sexually attracted to men.
"I had to explain posts about straight men pretending to be women, infiltrating lesbian spaces such as dating apps and events, pressuring women to sleep with them. And the professional standards person asked me, 'are you referring to men or trans women?' And I just said men because let's face it, they're all men."
Upon being informed of other allegations made against her by colleagues, Pieri stated that they were a "pack of lies", and believed at that point that her relationship with an employer that she was previously proud to have been associated with had "irrevocably broken down".
She claims: "I was told that discriminatory behaviour in the workplace had not been proven as all my colleagues had been interviewed. However, by that point I felt the relationship with my employer had irrevocably broken down and I just wanted to get out of there. From the first incident, they wanted me out at that point.
"And having that letter of expectations put on my record is almost like a chink in the armour, like as a prelude to try and get rid of me. I'd been in the organisation for three-and-a-half-years and not a single blemish on my record. It was only once I'd raised my head above the parapet and identified myself as gender critical, all of this happened. This was 100 per cent a witch hunt."
Discussing her next steps, Pieri stressed how the impact of the investigation has left her reputation in "tatters", and fears she may not secure another job.
She told GB News that she is currently attending counselling after the ordeal left a "huge knock on her self-esteem" - she is also considering legal action.
Pieri concluded: "I really did love that job and I worked so hard, and it feels like my reputation has been left in tatters. I am applying for other jobs now, but at the back of my mind, I'm worried in terms of referencing what will come up, if I might have job offers withdrawn as I've now got gross misconduct on my record, and the whole thing seems grossly unfair."
In a statement, a Norfolk Fire & Rescue spokesperson said: "We do not comment on individual cases of misconduct, and Ms Pieri left the organisation whilst an investigation was ongoing.
"Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service is an inclusive organisation and employer, and we strive for the highest possible standards of conduct and professionalism. We take all allegations of misconduct very seriously, and will investigate any breaches and take appropriate action where required."
Find Out More...