As LGBT+ rights organisation Stonewall comes under fire from anti-trans groups, GenderGP calls for all allies to stand together for the good of the community.
LGBTQ+ rights organisation Stonewall is under fire from anti-trans groups, something we at GenderGP are all too familiar with. The latest criticisms have targeted Stonewall’s Diversity Champions scheme, pressuring participants to withdraw. The scheme supports organisations to improve inclusivity and equality in the workplace, ‘ensuring all LGBTQ+ staff are free to be themselves’. It has been taken up by over 850 organisations in the UK. To join the scheme costs around £2500, which is in turn used by Stonewall to continue their work supporting LGBTQ+ people everywhere.
In a mythbusting statement Stonewall reassured those interested in the facts, that the scheme continues to grow, and that organisations who have not renewed their memberships have done so following the development of their own internal diversity and inclusivity programs: arguably the ultimate objective of any such scheme.
For instance, several publications have reported that University College London has opted out of the scheme this year, but none have mentioned that they did so in order to focus on an internal LGBTQ+ steering group and reaffirm their commitment to trans people.
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Stonewall is treated as a threat and smeared in the media because of its unambiguously trans-inclusive stance, and the fact that it encourages all those that it works with to develop similarly inclusive practices. These attacks are coordinated and designed to divide organisations supporting trans rights in order to isolate trans people. A small group of anti-trans campaigners want the community to feel like it is losing support, but this is far from the case.
GenderGP urges all those organisations who support the community to stand together in the face of this onslaught. For the good of all trans and non-binary individuals we must remember our shared commitment to securing their equal rights and care. We stand in solidarity with Stonewall and others affected by these attacks. It is only as one voice that we will drown out the misinformation, negativity and hate that threatens us all.
This Pride month, consider supporting organisations like Stonewall by donating or volunteering your time. You can read Stonewall’s official response to the attacks here. You can also help raise awareness by sharing this statement on social media with the hashtag #StandForStonewALL
Who is Stonewall?
Stonewall was founded in 1989 by a small group of people who had been active in the struggle against Section 28 of the Local Government Act. Section 28 was an offensive piece of legislation designed to prevent the so-called ‘promotion’ of homosexuality in schools; as well as stigmatising lesbian, gay and bi people, it galvanised the LGBT community. In 2015, and following a six-month consultation with trans communities, Stonewall became trans inclusive. Learn more about Stonewall and trans equality.