At the FIST National Conference on July 5, 2024 Ann Menasche, co-founder and co-coordinator of FIST, was one of four speakers at the opening plenary entitled “No More Witch-hunts: Tactics & Strategies for Defending Feminists Jobs, Livelihoods and Public Activism. ”
Ann spoke about the witch-hunt that resulted in her termination from Disability Rights California after twenty years of employment, having been targeted by a trans-identified female with whom she previously had no contact, and a group of 15 or more co-workers, mostly supervisory staff. The group originally went after Ann for asserting during a diversity training that she is a lesbian (same-sex rather than “same gender” attracted, the new definition imposed by trans extremists that includes males), and began investigating her outside political activities (protected under California Labor Law),
They were ready to strike when on May 6, 2022, the Executive Director released a statement on the leaked Dobbs decision and welcomed staff feedback. The statement mentioned a long list of groups that would be negatively effected by banning abortion, but left out women. Ann responded, “So glad DRC came up with a statement in defense of Roe! Thank you! Access to safe legal abortion is a life and death necessity for women as a biological sex across the board…and an absolute prerequisite to equal female participation in society.”
In response to this benign statement about the importance of abortion rights to women, she was called a “hate monger” and a TERF”, and the following workday, condemned by her workgroup of civil rights lawyers. She would later learn that that same day 15 people submitted a petition to the management team demanding that she be fired. The petition referenced her statement on abortion, her lesbian sexuality and her outside political activity. Two days later, without warning, she was terminated.
“The witch-hunt was merciless”, Ann said. My employer denied my unemployment because of my abuse of staff. I had to wait six months to win it back. Fortunately, I had started collecting Social Security, had some savings. If I was a younger person without those things, my liberal employer would have effectively thrown me out onto the streets.”
Ann emphasized the importance of lawsuits, building broad political support and media in fighting back against the witch-hunters.
“Ultimately, the only way to stop a witch-hunt is for enough people to speak out in opposition to it. When more and more people say as Joseph Welch said to McCarthy in 1954, “Have you no sense of decency?,” it will end…They can’t fire all of us.”
At the end of the presentations, a FIST member from the audience asked about the status of her lawsuit. Ann replied, “After close to a year and a half of hard fought litigation, the case has been resolved. I am not at liberty to provide details of the resolution the parties reached. I will emphasize how important it is to find a good lawyer who understands the issues and is willing to fight for you. I was very lucky to have found one. Also invaluable was the support I received from other feminists and male allies in the Justice for Ann Committee and the multiple media interviews and coverage that helped get the word out. It was pretty clear to my former employer that I was not going quietly into the night.”
Ann was heartily congratulated by her sister FIST members and others attending the conference.
Why was Ann not at liberty to discuss how her lawsuit resolved? Was it good or bad for her? A lot of people were rooting for her. Did she sign an NDA?
I’m sorry I can’t answer your questions. But as a lawyer, you should know how commonplace and often unavoidable Non-Disclosure agreements are in settlements of all kinds. Women who know me personally or by reputation should also be able to figure out on their own how likely it is that after a year and a half of hard fought litigation with an excellent attorney, I would sell myself short.