Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Feminism: chat

Original poster

Stonewall hide organisations signed up as Diversity Champions

138 replies

MrsOvertonsWindow · 19/05/2021 13:32

This morning Stonewall have hidden the list of all the organisations signed up to their diversity champions award behind a member's log in. Could this be connected to the Essex University report confirming that they have been offering wrong advice about the law to organisations? Are companies getting cold feet about being openly connected to them?

Recommendation from the Essex Uni report:
The University should give careful and thorough consideration to the relative benefits and disbenefits of its relationship with Stonewall, bearing in mind the issues raised in this report. In particular, it should consider that this relationship appears to have given University members the impression that gender critical academics can legitimately be excluded from the institution.

OP posts:
Lovetomato · 19/05/2021 14:16

itsallgoingtobe that is one hell of a list. It would be easier to say who isn’t signed up to them.They must earn a fortune. What a fantastic business model though? Pay us and we’ll give you a certificate to ‘prove’ you’re not homophobic. What an easy, virtual signalling option for a company or institution. Cake sales, some rainbow stationery and decorations. Stick it all up on Twitter - job done. But does it make a difference in the workplace? And does it make a difference to gay men or gay women or non-binary people beyond an annual or bi-annual corporate ‘event’ or awareness-raising’? Can institutions not do the hard work of making their work-spaces/environments LGBT friendly without these tokenistic and very easily-earned ‘badges’?

I hope this nonsense stops - people are starting to see right through it. Everyone should be able to bring their true self to work without having to festoon themselves in rainbows.

Leafstamp · 19/05/2021 14:09

Well, this is very interesting.

I too hope Stonewall are shitting themselves. They should be.

GreyhoundG1rl · 19/05/2021 14:05

I'm confused. How are they selling the virtues of signing up when it's apparently so shameful that your participation has to be hidden from public view?
How are companies not seeing the entire mess for what it is?

teawamutu · 19/05/2021 14:02

Wayback machine, May 14 2021: <a class="break-all" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20210514165034/www.stonewall.org.uk/diversity-champions-members" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">web.archive.org/web/20210514165034/www.stonewall.org.uk/diversity-champions-members

Original poster
MrsOvertonsWindow · 19/05/2021 14:02

The legal feminist has an interesting blog about potential risks for organisations signing up to be champions. Recent events suggest that this is pertinent advice. If organisations have illegal policies based on "Stonewall law" then those discriminated against can sue, especially if an organisation uses advice from them rather than comply with the actual law.

legalfeminist.org.uk/2021/02/01/submission-and-compliance/

OP posts:
PaleGreenGhost · 19/05/2021 14:01

Thanks itsallgoingtobefine

I think schools must be on a separate list as there's a school I know is super active with this and they're not mentioned either. So many universities though.

CuriousaboutSamphire · 19/05/2021 13:59

@Thingybob

From reading Twitter, I'm guessing it might be because nasty women have been bullying poor ickle Stonewall even causing one of their staff members to take a years sabbatical.
Did we? Ah bless!
ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 19/05/2021 13:53

@PaleGreenGhost

Does anyone have an archived list?

A school I'm interested in has it written on their board but it's been there for years. I'm hoping the school is no longer actively involved.

Latest from 8th April this year

<a class="break-all" href="https://archive.li/www.stonewall.org.uk/diversity-champions-members" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">archive.li/www.stonewall.org.uk/diversity-champions-members

Theeyeballsinthesky · 19/05/2021 13:51

Now isn’t that interesting!! Last week I think it was The Times said 25% of all large companies in the UK are signed up as Stonewall champions

I wonder if they will still publish the Stonewall top 100 list this year - or will that be hidden too

I’m baffled as to how the Stonewall Trustees aren’t seeing the alarm sirens going off here

PaleGreenGhost · 19/05/2021 13:49

Does anyone have an archived list?

A school I'm interested in has it written on their board but it's been there for years. I'm hoping the school is no longer actively involved.

Thingybob · 19/05/2021 13:44

From reading Twitter, I'm guessing it might be because nasty women have been bullying poor ickle Stonewall even causing one of their staff members to take a years sabbatical.

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 19/05/2021 13:43

That is very interesting - I wonder how the orgs signed up feel about this - usually one of the perks for paying for this sort of scheme is that you are listed on the providers website for people to admire.

Surely if it has got to the stage that Stonewall needs to hide this, this system of extorting money from companies so they don't appear bigoted is doomed to fail?

PennineSpring · 19/05/2021 13:42

Let’s hope they’re shitting themselves. The LGB Alliance wrote to them ages ago asking for sensible talks about a way forward and was ignored. Stonewall chose this path, they can reap what they sowed.