Commonwealth Games volunteer training criticised as 'political correctness gone mad'
Updated
A training guide for the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games that advises volunteers to use gender neutral language when addressing visitors has been labelled as "political correctness gone mad".
Queensland's Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington has been highly critical of the document which suggests volunteers use inclusive language towards visitors rather than gender-based terms.
The guidelines, it says, are designed "to create an inclusive Games for all to enjoy".
"Swapping gendered words for gender-natural ones can make everyone feel included, this also demonstrates our understanding that not everyone identifies as heterosexual or cisgender," the document reads.
Examples include avoiding gender specific job titles such as policeman/policewoman and instead using police officer.
Volunteers are also asked to consider using 'parent' instead of mother or father and 'partner' instead of girlfriend or boyfriend.
"We can avoid using words like: guys, girls, ladies, gentlemen, and instead use words like students, everyone, folds, all, etc."
The training also states that trans people should be able to use a toilet of their choice.
"If you are not sure if someone is male or female direct them to male, female and accessible toilet facilities."
But Ms Frecklington said Queenslanders were unique and should not be dictated to by organisers.
"I think Queenslanders are wonderful people and they can use their own common sense when they are talking to our foreign visitors," she said.
"I think as long as they are respectful, our volunteers need to be allowed to be that — volunteers.
"I'm someone who has grown up in the ways of treating people with respect by saying 'good morning ladies and gentlemen', I just don't think they should be dictated to in relation to these terms."
Ms Frecklington admitted she had not read the training guide in its entirety.
"I've seen a couple of the excerpts from it am I've obviously seen what's been printed in the paper today," she said.
"This is lefty overreach."
The guide has received a mixed response on social media, with many defending the inclusive intent of the training, while others believe it is over the top and unnecessary.
On Twitter, Noley said gender neutral language training was common at large tourism events and theme parks to avoid stuff ups.
Organisers of the Commonwealth Games, which are being held in April, have been contacted for comment.
One of the other guidelines asks volunteers to not take selfies with athletes.
"Certainly they have to respect our sport stars and I'm quite sure our volunteers can use their common sense in that regard," Ms Frecklington said.
Ms Frecklington said people expect their politicians to be honest.
"I think that when we get to this crazy political correctness, that is exactly why people are turning off the political spectrum," she said.
Topics: sport, commonwealth-games, commonwealth-games-organising-committee, community-and-society, southport-4215, qld, brisbane-4000
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