Male ‘period tsar’ sues for sex discrimination after his £36,000-a-year role was axed amid furious global backlash for appointing a man to explain periods to teenage girls
- Jason Grant was appointed as the first ever period dignity officer in August 2022
Scotland’s first ever ‘period dignity officer’ is claiming he was unlawfully sacked because of his sex and is set to take legal action against the public bodies that hired him.
Jason Grant’s £36,000-a-year role as Scotland’s first ‘period poverty tsar’ was axed after the SNP run councils in the Tay region were accused of of ‘institutionalised mansplaining’ and ‘peak gender idiocy’.
The role would have seen Mr Grant speaking to women about menstruation and included promoting access to free sanitary products, which sparked a global backlash with some infuriated women asking ‘Have we ever tried to explain to men how to shave or how to take care of their prostate or whatever?’
The role would have seen Mr Grant speaking to women about menstruation and included promoting access to free sanitary products.
Now Mr Grant, a tobacco salesman turned macho personal trainer, is claiming that his dismissal was a breach of the Equality Act, which will likely be decided in a lengthy hearing, with a number of witnesses.
Jason Grant (pictured) was appointed as the UK’s first ever period dignity officer in August 2022 but his role was axed following backlash
Mr Grant’s role would have seen him speaking to women about menstruation and included promoting access to free sanitary products
It sparked a furious backlash from women, who called the hire ‘grossly offensive’
So far he has been successful in arguing he should be able to take legal action against Dundee and Angus College, Perth College, Angus Council and Dundee City Council – which were all part of the body that appointed him.
Dundee and Angus College had argued it held sole responsibility but that was rejected by an employment tribunal.
READ MORE: Scotland’s first-ever period dignity officer role is AXED by college following ‘threats and abuse’ after boxing and ultra-marathon-running ex tobacco salesman was handed £36,126-a-year role
‘They granted our amendment which now puts all of them in the frame,’ said Ryan Russell of MML Law, who represents Grant.
He told the Times: ‘We are now pursuing all four of them plus the partnership.’
Removing someone from a role because of their sex is likely to be a breach of the Equality Act, which states no one should be discriminated on because their sex.
Throughout the hearing, evidence will also be given that suggests Mr Grant had been excluded from meetings before his role was axed.
Mr Russell added: ‘It seems bizarre to say the least that my client’s role was described as crucial at the beginning of last August but by the end of the month it was not required at all.’
The appointment of Mr Grants role in August 2022 sparked a furious backlash, when he was appointed in a role funded by the Scottish Government.
One of the most high-profile critics was former tennis star Martina Navratilova, who described the appointment as ‘f*****g ridiculous’.
Mr Grant was appointed to the role in August 2022. A few weeks later the job had been axed
Mr Grant is now taking legal action against several public bodies on the grounds he was unlawfully sacked because of his sex
Mr Grant previously worked in the tobacco industry before becoming a personal trainer
The SNP run councils in the Tay region were accused of ‘institutionalised mansplaining’ and ‘peak gender idiocy’
She added: ‘Have we ever tried to explain to men how to shave or how to take care of their prostate or whatever? This is absurd.’
Author Susan Dalgety added that appointing a man to the position is ‘institutionalised mansplaining.’
READ ALSO: ‘Have we ever tried to explain to men how to shave?’: Wimbledon ace Martina Navratilova leads backlash after SNP council appoints a MAN as its period poverty rights officer
‘Wonder if he’s ever experienced the horror of a blood stained dress in public, or the gut-wrenching fear of a missed period? No, didn’t think so,’ she said.
‘It’s about making ‘anyone of any gender’ aware of period products, he says. Jason, I have news for you, only females menstruate. Any more questions? PMS? Endometriosis?
‘I don’t disagree that boys should be taught more about menstruation, but appointing a bloke as the first period dignity officer is institutionalised mansplaining.’
Even Ian Blackford, who was SNP leader at the time, questioned the decision, agreeing that the role would have been better suited to a woman.
‘I think it is important that we do have officers in place to ensure that women are supported as much as they should be,’ he said.
‘I think it is important we get the policy right, that we implement it, and that as a principle it would be far better that women are in these posts rather than anyone else.’
The role would have seen Mr Grant speaking to women about menstruation and included promoting access to free sanitary products
Mr Grant insisted at the time his gender would help ‘encourage more open discussion on the topic’.
But Mr Grant insisted at the time his gender would help ‘encourage more open discussion on the topic’.
The man, who was also set to discuss issues surrounding menopause, added: ‘It’s about making people aware of the availability of period products for anyone of any gender, whenever they need it.
‘I think being a man will help me to break down barriers, reduce stigma and encourage more open discussions. Although affecting women directly, periods are an issue for everyone.
‘We’ll also raise awareness of the menopause, which, although a natural process for women, has wider repercussions in the world of work and family.’
Defending the role at the time, the Tayside period dignity working group claimed he had been the ‘strongest candidate’.
But days later his role was scrapped, with a spokesperson for the group adding: ‘It is regrettable that given the threats and abuse levelled at individuals in recent weeks, the period dignity regional lead officer role will not continue.’
The spokesperson added that Mr Grant’s role had been axed after people involved faced ‘threats and abuse’.
MailOnline has contacted Dundee & Angus College, Peth College, Dundee city council and Angus council.
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