Laugh-n-Pass Driving School Defends Trainer
YORKSHIRE: A Muslim man has slammed a driving school for sending a transsexual instructor to teach his wife.
Emma Sherdley has worked at an all-female driving school in West Yorkshire, northern England, for the past 12-months but until recently was a married father-of-two called Andrew.
But as she is mid-way through gender changing treatment and has the necessary legal documentation she was accepted to teach at the Laugh ‘n’ Pass school.
Laugh-n-Pass Instructor Emma Sherdley
Yet one client has threatened to sue after the 42-year-old arrived to teach his wife the right way to handle a gear-stick.
“You have sent me a man. Send me a proper female. How dare you send a man with a deep voice,” he told manager Joanne Dixon.
The man, a Muslim from Sheffield said he was offended by Miss Sherdley’s sexuality and claimed the company deliberately sent a man disguised as a woman.
“His attitude and behaviour was outrageous and has upset me and Emma and everyone else who works here,” Miss Dixon told the London Evening Standard.
“We are not racist. We are not sexist – If anyone was being so it was that man.”
Miss Sherdley, an experienced instructor, said that no other learners had complained about being taught by her and she tried not to let the ‘hurtful, offensive and deeply upsetting’ abuse affect her.
Miss Sherdley said: “I always knew as a child that I was a woman stuck in a man’s body.
“I tried hard to be a man, getting married and having children but it never worked and never would.
“For the past six years I have been what is correctly called “transitioned”. I still have to undergo final surgery but legally I am a woman.
“That is what my birth certificate says and that is what the gender recognition certificate proves. For that prejudiced and biased man to threaten to sue me and the driving school is totally and utterly wrong.”
There are currently 32 female pupils on the books at the school which has been open for ten years and boasts a successful pass rate.
“We say each of our female instructors promise to be friendly, professional and patient – that is exactly what Emma is,” added Miss Dixon.
“For her to be subjected to abuse and threats is simply intolerable.”
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What a disgrace. How dare this muslim man have the audacity to complain about Emma. All too often, we have to put up with and pander to the minority within the muslim community who have nothing better to do than to gripe about the injustices that they claim are perpetrated against them. As for his comment ‘deliberately sending a man dressed as a woman’. Within the law, Emma is a woman and if this gentleman knew half of what transgendered folk go through in order to lead their lives as normal, decent people, then he would appreciate the sacrifices that Emma has gone through and sacrifices yet to come. Emma is a qualified and efficient driving instructor and respected by her clients and yourselves or she would not be employed by you. This guy should be sued for transphobic behaviour and made to realise that he can not utter such a ridiculous outburst as and when he sees fit. As for being offended, Emma is the one that has been offended, not him. I wish Emma good luck for the future and just let this obviously ignorant person get on with his obviosly blinkered vision of life. These are my opinions as a decent human being who is also in the stage of transitioning.