Help!

[jakeyboy1]

I've joined a D&I group at work...

They are on about bringing in "expert friends" as consultants. Who can I suggest instead of Stonewall?!

[OhHolyJesus]

Oooh interesting

LGB Alliance are the only 'antidote' as far as I'm aware. You might need to get different groups in to represent lesbians, gay men and bisexual people otherwise. So many groups add the T (or not) and are TWAW so LGB Alliance is a safe bet and a quick win.

You'll be instantly accused of transphobia though.

[jakeyboy1]

I know.

Why have I done this to myself?!

[OhHolyJesus]

Well you're in for a treat I suppose!
Seriously though, it shouldn't be brave to do this, but in this climate it is brave. Well done you for sticking your neck out.
If you struggle you could look to bring in a disability awareness group, so to avoid everything to do with LGBT.

[NorthernIrishFeminist]

I can start a new thread is anyone things this isn't the place. I realise LGB alliance are being targeted by the T activists and I'm getting enough problems about who I follow on Twitter so not following them. But I've seen retweets that sound like they are opposed to gay marriage and comments about them that concern me. Is this misrepresentation?

[NorthernIrishFeminist]

Thinks

[PurpleHoodie]

Southall Black Sisters (Women and Bame)

EnhancetheUk.org (Disability)

LGB Alliance (LGB - Sexual Orientation)

[PurpleHoodie]

NorthernIrish

LGB Alliance have been set up to champion the Rights of same-sex orientated people. Therefore they are totally in favour of gay relationships (including marriage).

[NorthernIrishFeminist]

Does anyone know what the context of their tweet that said

'It isn't homophobic to be against gay marriage[...]' was?

That does seem to say something a bit different to 'it isn't homophobic to be against marriage' if they just wanted to say not every couple has to get married.

Not being goady, just I could see why that tweet was being picked up on and wondered if I'd missed something

I didn't see the original tweet just the screenshots

[EmpressLangClegSpartacus]

Yes, @NorthernIrishFeminist.

They followed it up with a second tweet saying: “ That same-sex marriage tweet was very badly formulated! The introduction of same-sex marriage was a great breakthrough for gay people. But support for it wasn’t universal among LGB activists: many saw it as a sellout - joining the establishment. A minority still view it that way.”

twitter.com/alliancelgb/status/1273680300262948866?s=21

[Mermoose]

Does anyone know what the context of their tweet that said

'It isn't homophobic to be against gay marriage[...]' was?

From my understanding, it was because they were being criticised for associating with Baroness Nicholson, who in 2013 (I think) voted against same sex marriage. I think it was badly handled, and they said this themselves afterwards. They should have just said that they agree with her on some things but not others.

What about getting in individual authors who write from different perspectives? Like Onjali Q. Raúf, she's great. Her book 'The Boy at the Back of the Class' was written based on her own experiences of delivering food to refugee camps in Calais, and she's founder of the charity 'Making Herstory' which tackles the abuse and trafficking of women and girls. Proper feminist too.

[Mermoose]

Sorry cross-posted Empress.

[NonnyMouse1337]

There is an assumption that all gay, lesbian or bisexual people have always been or continue to be in favour of same sex marriage. Lesbian and gay rights activists weren't all in agreement over this.

LGB Alliance clarified that tweet.

twitter.com/ALLIANCELGB/status/1273680300262948866?s=20

That same-sex marriage tweet was very badly formulated! The introduction of same-sex marriage was a great breakthrough for gay people. But support for it wasn’t universal among LGB activists: many saw it as a sellout - joining the establishment. A minority still view it that way.

[NonnyMouse1337]

Oops... Empress and Mermoose got there before me.

[NorthernIrishFeminist]

Thank-you, it's a shame they managed to create the confusion. It's useful to have the background to explain if in the position to put them forward as a D&I partner

[jakeyboy1]

Thanks all.

I also noted there was a lot of conflated talk about "gender discrimination" I am right in that should be sex discrimination as gender isn't a protected characteristic?

[FernPotts]

What is the reason for getting people in?

Are they meant to be advising on how to adapt the workplace and its practices so that more disabled employees find it accessible? More crèche facilities so that single parents (mostly mothers still) are included? Greater ethnic representation? Adoption leave? Greater understanding of mental health? More accessible loos? More family-friendly hours? Better food choice?

Just leave the whole trans thing out of it for the moment. There are so very many other issues.

[jakeyboy1]

@fernpotts absolutely agree just want to be prepared

Whole reason is was meant to happen months ago but following George Floyd it has gone up the priority list. I work in a very old fashioned industry with a lot of challenges. It could take a while ;)

[jakeyboy1]

Sorry reason for getting people in - unclear but it's in the outline of activities for the group

[JemimaShore]

Concentrate on the discrimination based on disability, age, pregnancy, race, sexual orientation.

My DH did an online course for diversity recently, and my jaw hit the floor (in pleasant surprise) to see it concentrated on all of the above stuff, and didn't mention the T word at all.

It was very refreshing to see.

I don't agree that trans people are the most vulnerable group in society - people with disabilities are far more vulnerable. And age discrimination seems to be through the roof right now. Anyone over 25 expressing an opinion is a boomer or a karen.

Anyway, you get my drift. Steer away from gender identity.