Bloody hell. 
Scottish government
In its annual applications over the past four years, the Scottish government offered up screenshots of elected ministers’ social media activity for Stonewall’s approval, details of every Pride event attended by Nicola Sturgeon and examples of “LGBT champions” silencing dissenting colleagues on internal forums as proof of its commitment to “equality”.
It also said it would consult on changing the law. In one section “worth 10% of your total score” of the 2017 application, it pledged to “consult on reforming gender recognition legislation in line with international best practice for transgender people.”
When asked in the 2018 application form, “has your organisation done any further work in the past year to promote LGBT equality in the wider community?”, the Scottish government responded that it “has consulted on potential reforms to the Gender Recognition Act 2004 to introduce a self declaratory system”.
In an effort to win points, the government also described how it was “consulting on the detail of what should be included in a new hate crime bill”. The legislation, passed this year, created a new offence of “stirring up hatred” on grounds such as transgender identity, but attracted criticism for excluding women as a protected group.
The response won a pat on the back from Stonewall.
“The sponsorship and support Scottish government provides to a diversity of LGBT groups is highly valuable and impactful, and together with the consultations towards reforming gender recognition legislation, Scottish Government has such an influential and powerful role in improving the lives of LGBT people across Scotland,” said the feedback report, rewarding the good work with 18 out of 20 points.
In another application, Stonewall awarded the Scottish government 11 out 17 points in one section “for its “influence on the 2021 census”.
Despite all these commitments to change the legal landscape not only within its own workplace but across the whole country, the Scottish government missed out on a Top 100 ranking by just one place — it came 101st.
“We can do better than this — and we must,” permanent secretary Leslie Evans declared in a blog.
The next year, it burnished its credentials even further — placed 72nd in 2019 Top 100 Employers — but Stonewall said there was still room for improvement.
“Some key areas to focus on before the next submission,” it suggested. “Ensure that any remaining gendered terminology is clarified or removed for your policies (Maternity and Paternity policies have references to ‘Mothers’, ‘Pregnant Women’ and ‘Fathers’).”
It failed to do so. In the 2020 Index, it sank down to 127.
“We have identified the following areas as priorities for the year ahead” came the Feedback. “Removing remaining gendered terms such as ‘mother’ from your maternity policy, and replacing these with gender neutral equivalents. Please refer to Stonewall’s Inclusive Policy Toolkit for further information.”