Support a Queer Disabled Scientist's Fight for Justice

Hello, I am a queer, disabled, non-binary, cancer scientist. I believe I have experienced, and am still experiencing, discrimination based on my race and disability from my previous employer. I am seeking your support to raise £5000 for my legal battle against them and to rebuild my future.

Due to financial constraints and an increasing cost of living, I cannot afford legal defence that adequately presents my case. As such, I am self-representing and learning as I go.

When I filed my original claim against my employer, I did not include sufficient details about the nature of my claim due to not being an employment solicitor. As a result, the court has ordered that I pay a deposit of £2000 to continue pursuing my claim. For those unfamiliar with the Employment Tribunal, a deposit order is a sum of money (up to £1,000 per allegation) that the Employment Tribunal may order a party to pay in certain circumstances (i.e., where such allegation or argument has "little reasonable prospect of success", usually as a condition of continuing with the allegation or argument.

Your support will help cover the legal costs necessary to fight this case and seek justice for the alleged discrimination I have faced. Every contribution, no matter how small, brings me closer to achieving a fair resolution and highlights the importance of equitable treatment in the workplace.

Background

I was on paid leave between June 2021 and July 2024 due to ongoing issues at work related to my perceived mental health, disability, and racial discrimination, I have now been dismissed. I have sought reasonable adjustments that would enable me to thrive in my role and continue my career in a way that will keep me safe mentally and physically. Despite my proactivity, I have faced significant challenges. I feel as though my career has been stolen from me. The events leading up to this request have forced me to heal from trauma that was entirely preventable. My prolonged absence I feel has impacted my professional growth and scientific development, thwarting my aspiration to advance as a clinical scientist in genetics. I am now trying to retrain and seek new opportunities in the unforgiving job market. Watching my friends and peers progress alongside me while my career appears stagnated has been incredibly difficult. I feel I have been treated unfavourably compared to them, and I believe both my race and disabilities have played a significant role in this treatment.

I am a British Bangladeshi with ADHD, ASD, and BPD, and I have been transparent about my conditions from the outset of my employment. However, the company's response to my accommodation requests has felt inadequate, often citing organisational impact without exploring potential solutions or compromises.

I have been vocal about perceived favouritism, where specific individuals, particularly white colleagues, receive preferential treatment while excluding non-white individuals.

Conversations with colleagues have exposed perceived racial biases, and many people of colour in the lab, in my experience, shared the sentiment that white colleagues receive preferential treatment. Additionally, discussions about my mental health and neurodevelopmental disorders, highlighted the lack of support.

I believe my employer's actions have led to a series of discriminatory behaviours related to my disabilities. They have leveraged my drug addiction against me, an issue I believe was exacerbated by their failure to provide adequate support, ultimately leading to the breakdown of my seven years of abstinence. Despite my repeated pleas for help, I felt ignored and was unfairly portrayed as the aggressor.

Using a person of colour's drug history to refute allegations of discrimination is a familiar story for many people from marginalised ethnic backgrounds.

I have struggled with a severe picking disorder, but this self-harm is not self-inflicted; I believe my employer's actions have caused irreparable harm. My GP and psychiatrist are aware of my disorder, and I have sought appropriate medical support.

Losing my career over requesting a 1-2 days to work from home due to severe, unmedicated ADHD has been devastating. My job at the lab was a stepping stone towards my future in genetics, and now I am left to rebuild from this significant loss.

I am deeply grateful for any support you can provide to help me continue this fight. Your contributions will make a significant difference in my ability to pursue justice and advocate for fair treatment in the workplace.

Thank you for standing with me.