Trying to get Stonewall out of my workplace

[MakeTheWorldSaneAgain]

Dear Wonderful Women,

Long time lurker - fan of you all!

I was just watching Abigail Shrier on Triggernometry and her comment that if Drs know the medicalisation of children - esp girls - who present with ROGD is morally wrong, then they have an ethical duty as Drs to publicly call it out.

Not at medic - but I have decided to write to my boss to try and get Stonewall out of my workplace - not a champion, but going that way.

I want to show how they are a discredited organisation - which any association by my work brings my organisation into disrepute.

I think Stonewall’s lack of evidence base and promotion of policies/views which cause physical harm is likely to hold most sway I.e:

-response to the Keira Bell/Tavistock ruling

-response to World Rugby which stated adult males in women’s rugby is unsafe to women.

Can you provide any links to this or anything else that you think may help me. Also wondered about them misrepresenting the law.

Many thanks. I think I am safe at work to do this - and also think I have to do something!

Some info here about Alison Bailey and Stonewall. Might be of interest.

filia.org.uk/news/2020/6/27/allison-bailey-i-am-suing-stonewall-to-stop-them-policing-free-speech

I think that's a laudable but difficult aim. What do Stonewall actually do for your workplace? Do you know who was involved with the decision to bring them in? How long have they been there?

Good luck, Stonewall are the go to for LGB and the rest. Until we have an alternative that isn't labelled as transphobic we are going to struggle. My organisation recently used Stonewall guidance to set the gender questions on a well bring survey. We have the question what is your gender. With the options male, female, other, prefer not to say. Then are you trans, not trans. Its stupid you can't be an other!

Good luck with this but I suspect it will end in a witch hunt against you.

I am a member of the BACP and we have to adhere to a strict ethical framework, the principles of which are:

•	Being trustworthy: honouring the trust placed in the practitioner
•	Autonomy: respect for the client’s right to be self-governing
•	Beneficence: a commitment to promoting the client’s wellbeing
•	Non-maleficence: a commitment to avoiding harm to the client
•	Justice: the fair and impartial treatment of all clients and the provision of adequate services
•	Self-respect: fostering the practitioner’s self-knowledge, integrity and care for self

Adhering to the ethical framework is a HUGE deal in counselling and yet the BACP threw Stephanie Davies-Arai to the lions rather than stand up for a watchful waiting approach to children presenting with gender dysphoria.

I’ve been in my workplace about 5 years, not particularly senior, but I am quite solid in my position. SW are doing some training and apparently have been asked to do some review or contribute (not sure) of policies/outreach.

Don’t know who contacted them - not my dept - but I thought even if I can’t get them out, that work should know what’s going on.

Forgot to mention the BACP are stonewall diversity champions although it was implied in my post!

@MakeTheWorldSaneAgain

I’ve been in my workplace about 5 years, not particularly senior, but I am quite solid in my position. SW are doing some training and apparently have been asked to do some review or contribute (not sure) of policies/outreach.

Don’t know who contacted them - not my dept - but I thought even if I can’t get them out, that work should know what’s going on.

You'll doubtless be labelled a transphobe. How much do you need this job?

Good luck with this but I suspect it will end in a witch hunt against you.

Thanks for the warning.

I don’t think we are that committed just yet, and we aren’t particularly woke, so I don’t foresee that particularly, although I will have to make a good case which is why I wanted to be fully abreast of the facts.

@MakeTheWorldSaneAgain

Good luck with this but I suspect it will end in a witch hunt against you.

Thanks for the warning.

I don’t think we are that committed just yet, and we aren’t particularly woke, so I don’t foresee that particularly, although I will have to make a good case which is why I wanted to be fully abreast of the facts.

One of the best ways to sound people out is to act dumb and ask around verbally about what all the Jk Rowling stuff is about.

That will tell you which way the wind is blowing.

As in, staff room conversations, over coffee or whatever. 'My kids love Harry Potter but I keep hearing we're supposed to cancel the author, what's that all about?"

The people who have lapped up the ideology can't wait to tell you what a witch she is, in my experience.

If stonewall aren’t in your workplace yet, what are the reasons people want to bring them in? Maybe the way forward is to find that out & offer an alternative provider

You'll doubtless be labelled a transphobe.

This is one of the reasons why I want to emphasise the evidence-based harms. I think they will see that. But yes - a possibility.

How much do you need this job?

Hugely - but I think I am solid at work and my boss is approachable - and I suspect likely to be sympathetic - although no guarantee.

@MakeTheWorldSaneAgain

You'll doubtless be labelled a transphobe.

This is one of the reasons why I want to emphasise the evidence-based harms. I think they will see that. But yes - a possibility.

How much do you need this job?

Hugely - but I think I am solid at work and my boss is approachable - and I suspect likely to be sympathetic - although no guarantee.

Do the JKR test.

Or try something like "oh stonewall, I think they've been in the news a bit are they a bit controversial these days?"

Keep a copy of the policies being reviewed now. Or just keep a copy of all your HR policies (at least) so you can compare versions. Then compare any changes against the law - likely the Equality Act. Stonewall are on record as wanting to remove single sex exemptions for example. If the new policies are not legally compliant then you will have an audit trail.

Maybe the way forward is to find that out & offer an alternative provider

That’s a great idea! Any ideas?

They are being brought in because I think work genuinely want to be a good employer/organisation.

Also, simply go to meetings (if these are being held) and observe. Don't say anything but take notes, which should be easy now that meetings aren't in person.

Make in what way good employers? Are they looking at diversity in the round or only LGBT issues?

Forgive my confusion but are you saying you work as a or with hcp of some sort? I didn’t understand this from your op.

If so then safe guarding is a good way to go. It works well at schools- stonewall contradict all kinds of safe guarding guidelines and repeating this to schools helps (especially with ‘and ofsted will want to know). Presumably any hcp will have similarly important safe guarding policies and an equivalent to ofsted?

And if you know any keen sportsmen at work you could throw in a comment about Stonewall’s campaign to allow male born people to play in women’s rugby teams?