Tesco accused of letting cashier 'openly insult' customers with transgender shirt slogan

Tesco has been accused of allowing a cashier to "blatantly" insult customers by donning a Pride-themed top at work. It came as a staff member was spotted wearing a T-shirt during a Cornwall Pride event with a slogan and colours in support of transgender women.

The shirt which reads 'sisters not cisters' is an LGBTQ+ ally slogan which is usually used as a phrase to support all women rather than just standing up for the rights of biological women. A 'cister' refers to people whose gender identity is the same as their sex assigned at birth.

But it left people divided with some unsure whether it was a supportive message during the 50th Cornwall Pride march celebrations in Falmouth or was being hateful towards people who are not transgender. Taking to Twitter, one user asked Tesco why it was allowing staff to wear the shirt to work and said it "openly insult[ed] customers".

READ MORE: 'I regret buying home on 'Gypsy Billionaire's' Cornish site as sewage bubbles up and bills are huge'

READ MORE: Controversial 20p 'card only' public toilets see people trying to 'force entry'

Anonymous X user, known only as 'Dr P' shared an image of the shirt to the site, formerly Twitter, saying: "Why is the cashier at your Express Store in Event Square, Falmouth wearing this shirt whilst serving the public? It says: 'Sisters not cis-ters' Is it corporate policy to blatantly and openly insult customers?" They added: "Why would that be allowed by your staff?"

The phrase derives from the original full quote 'support your sisters not just your cis-ters' but the shortening left people thinking it could be intentionally hateful towards non-transgender people, regardless of their beliefs. Some said it was forcing biological women to accept transgender women were the same. Others were against the message altogether.

Join CornwallLive on WhatsApp and be first to hear what's happening near you

Among the reaction was:

"The Falmouth of my childhood was full of fishermen and rugged beautiful Cornish folk. It is now a cesspit of middle class artists, and obnoxious students and morally impotent cultists. It's so sad. I wonder what grandad would think if he saw it today."

"Women should start crying at the check-out where this cashier is serving saying it has hurt our feelings, we feel unsafe, afraid!! Give them their own dose!"

"That T-shirt is deeply offensive. I’d complain on the spot."

"@Tesco shame on you! Do you not understand how appalling it is to be referred to as cis - made up name to insult actual women? It displays Tesco to be misogynistic in the extreme and you can forget my custom."

Others said that 'cis' was not an insult and the T-shirt had been misunderstood.

Tesco responded to the concerns to say that everyone is welcome at Tesco and said the supermarket chain wants people from all communities to thrive, feel like they belong and it is committed to creating an inclusive workplace that celebrates the diversity of colleagues and customers.

It also added that it expects all staff to come to work adhering to the dress code policy ensuring that all colleagues are work appropriate, wear the uniform that is required for their department and any safety wear that is needed for their role.