If you were Stonewall WWYD?

[GrimDamnFanjo]

My background is in branding, PR etc plus gov policy and comms. From that perspective I've spent the last week or so wondering how Stonewall will manage the situation they're in moving forwards.

Of course the most likely situation is they will push on as before regardless but if Champions starts to crumble they will be facing financial losses over the few years.

I wonder whether the Board of Trustees is sufficiently concerned to be thinking ahead about the direction of their policies?

I can't see them abandoning their gender identity ahead of sex stance.

That's am interesting question. I'm not sure whether they can recover from this - it's more a matter of if they go with a bang or a whimper I think.

I don’t think they care. They will continue to receive funding from various sources as the likes of Barclays Bank is so signed up I can’t see them pulling out.

If I were the stonewall board, the first thing I’d do is stop the organisation talking. No interviews, no press releases, no twitter, nothing.

Secondly I’d appoint an independent person to conduct an organisational review and include within in its terms of reference, discussion with ppl/organisations from all sides.

Thirdly I’d get rid of NK. She’s CEO and under her watch things have gone extraordinarily badly for them. It’s not all her fault but someone has to carry the can and she does seem very out of her depth

Fourthly, I’d withdraw from supporting the ludicrous action against LGBA

They won’t do any of this of course. NK might resign but that will be framed as “transphobes hounding her out of her job” and they’ll plough on regardless. They’ve got a lot lower to go before someone the board has the sense to call a halt.

Since the sunk cost fallacy is off the scale with Stonewall, keep up the car crashes until the charity is toast, and then go all in with the victimhood card.

Camila Batmanghelidjh is going for something along these lines and it's amazing how effective it's being. It might not rehabilitate her completely but history is becoming kinder to her with each passing month.

Go back to my roots, drop the T, and support LGB rights.

I think Stonewall must be shitting bricks right now.

I wonder whether the Board of Trustees is sufficiently concerned to be thinking ahead about the direction of their policies?

This. How is it possible not one of the trustees has sent up an emergency flare already?

Its an interesting question. However I'd have to say - If I was Stonewall they wouldn't be in this situation in the first place, so I'd have to think from the pov of if I was Stonewall, being Stonewall as they are, what are they most likely to do?

And the answer is double down, and make their position even plainer. They weren't able to see this coming, or pick up on the many many warning signs and comments. This isn't fixable or recoverable, they believe they are right and justified to do this on government money and that their version of the law is better. If they had the capacity to take on other points of view or a more reasonable position they would not have got themselves into this mess.

I'd pack up and go home if I was them. They've been caught lying and cheating. Who would ever trust them again. No one.

If I was Stonewall, I’d announce an investigation by independent consultants and have a media blackout for a month or three. Then I’d make a big mea culpa announcement, admit we’d lost our way, get rid of NK, and say that we would be regrouping as an organisation that supports LBG rights, and is quietly drop the T.

@LazyHorizon

I wonder whether the Board of Trustees is sufficiently concerned to be thinking ahead about the direction of their policies?

This. How is it possible not one of the trustees has sent up an emergency flare already?

Especially as one of the trustees was a board member for the Holocaust Education Trust...

"Paula Saint-Claire? Oh,yes, I remember. She used to work here at Stonewall. A real TRA loon...My name's Paul Saint-Claire, by the way...Ha.Ha. No, no relation!"

@AgentProvocateur

If I was Stonewall, I’d announce an investigation by independent consultants and have a media blackout for a month or three. Then I’d make a big mea culpa announcement, admit we’d lost our way, get rid of NK, and say that we would be regrouping as an organisation that supports LBG rights, and is quietly drop the T.

I agree. Shutting up and reviewing would be an effective strategy. I can't see dropping the T but surely they can see that with this and the alphabet soup they have created a space for the LGBA to move into?

All it would take is some robust funding and campaign priorities and Stonewall would be toast.

@Defaultname

"Paula Saint-Claire? Oh,yes, I remember. She used to work here at Stonewall. A real TRA loon...My name's Paul Saint-Claire, by the way...Ha.Ha. No, no relation!"

Andrew Pakes - former NUS President.

@AgentProvocateur

If I was Stonewall, I’d announce an investigation by independent consultants and have a media blackout for a month or three. Then I’d make a big mea culpa announcement, admit we’d lost our way, get rid of NK, and say that we would be regrouping as an organisation that supports LBG rights, and is quietly drop the T.

I think this is what I would do.

The big thorn in their side though is the Allison Bailey case not set to be heard until 2022. 11 court days have been set aside for it. That's 11 days of high profile raking over and over private emails and letters etc. It's going to be awful, even if Allison looses. The fact they were denied the case being struck out doesn't bode well.

They have to choose what they want to be - and either stick it out or destroy to rebuild.

I have similar background (as one thing I’ve done) and I’ve wondered the same

Do they feel in crisis atm at work

If they decide to go back to their roots they would need to do a Windscale (shame to drop the name but it has become badly associated now)

I’d also settle the Alison Bailey case and admit they were wrong

I can’t see how they can possibly win and the reputation alone damage is already enormous

Ratner moment?

What would I do ?

All the things that Stonewall won't do ...

They won't apologise
They won't look again at their policies
They (almost certainly) won't appoint an outside lawyer/former judge to look at their policies and the implementation of those policies
They won't require resignations from the top
They won't (quietly) change tack

They will double down ...

Shame really. As someone who is trans Stonewall don't currently represent me or my views... (and why should they ?)

But heigh ho ...

Joolz

Go back to my roots, drop the T, and support LGB rights.

There's no reason that Stonewall shouldn't support trans rights - I'd hope we all do.
What they shouldn't do, and should never have done, is push trans rights at the expense of other protected groups.

Campaign for trans spaces. Get rid of bearded 'lesbians' with penises. Stop redefining words and concepts. Sack pretty much everyone who works there at the moment and beg Ben Summerskill to come back for a fixed period to sort things out.

Zipping’ up my boots... going back to my roots...

I don’t think they could be a non toxic brand again through.

Do companies pay to join Stonewall?

How do they make money

Companies (and schools, gvt depts, police, councils....) pay to be in their leagues and for their ‘advice’. I think there was 850 organisations on their list (before they hid it) plus donations, grants, (lottery?)