NHS role in a Stonewall Champions organisation - would it put you off?

[Callingforopinions]

NC'd for this.
I am a registered health care professional at a senior manager level.
I am really pleased to see that many people are raising concerns about Stonewall and I feel that the tide is turning - I hope that the letter from nurses spreads the word further and I 100% agree with every word in it.
A job opportunity has come up in another NHS organisation and I have been asked to apply for it (not saying I will get it though). It's an interesting role that I wouldn't usually think twice about applying for it and know that I could do it well, I'm ready for a change and it would fit really well with my family life. However, on the advertisement, the organisation promotes its relationship with Stonewall as being a benefit and TBH it's putting me off even applying for it.
WWYD? Not even apply? Apply and attach the nurse letter (I am joking - that could be career suicide)? Apply and hope that they soon see sense, accepting that if I were successful that it would be a frustrating few months? Go for it and see it as an opportunity influence from within. Or, go for it because it's just words on a page and unlikely to impact me if I don't want it to.

I do understand that this is completely my decision but I have only recently had my eyes opened to the risk to women and girls rights and I am really keen to hear where others on this board would draw their line in the sand.

It would be good to hear from people who work in organisations who are signed up to Stonewalls agenda despite not agreeing with it and how it impacts their day to day work lives. Thanks

Go for it. I think that NHS will drop Stonewall soon. Most HCP on the ground know that sex matters and that Stonewall are anti women and increasingly no longer representive of LGB people.

Having been in a hospital recently on several occasions, it's been a relief not to be confronted with any rainbow lanyards or anti women Stonewall guff. There were even single sex toilets!

My instinct is that women are better off within the fold arguing (even if it's quietly) from the inside. But I'd check it out first. Is it just a rather naive "we're going to celebrate Stonewall over all the other protected characteristics because we haven't thought that deeply about it" or is it a place where there are some seriously dodgy influential individuals promoting an ideology to the detriment of women and children? Like that Brighton hospital ?

What MrsOverton said.

It's the challenge of knowing have they just not realised and fallen for the surface level advertising without unpacking the (many) ethical issues, (homophobia, sexism, impartiality, Equality Act responsibilities for the other 8 characteristics yada yada yada) or is there a worrying ideological passion somewhere in it.

Yes, it would put me right off the job: as a female and worse as a lesbian this badge says clearly to me that I'm in a politically flagged zone in which I'm a second class citizen and I'd bloody well be careful about not subordinating myself and all other LGB/female people quietly or else. However what will probably eventually change this and get more organisations that have gone very wrong on their duty to remain politically impartial, is sane people within pointing out the problems and the massive insurance payouts that probably lie ahead.

This will be part of the standard recruitment blurb that will only change once 'official'. Like my company always lists the holiday allowance as a benefit when it's bloody statutory minimum. Not a benefit at all and neither is Stonewall, but HR must be so very proud of themselves anyway. Go for it.

No one will know of your feelings if you don't apply op. Work from within, change is on its way because public opinion does not go for SW law. There is now a negative impact being a SW Champion and a lot of organisations are beginning to look closely at what benefits are being bought. Women and their rights are now at the top of the ladder because so much has happened recently, not least Afghanistan. Go for it, have patience - your opportunities will come.

Stonewall have no place in the NHS. I see them as aggressive oppressors.

Just joining two threads together. Some brave nurses have started to speak up for the safety of women and girls in hospitals:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/4334962-la-scapigliata-nurses-request-that-health-and-nursing-organisations-withdraw-from-stonewalls-diversity-championship-scheme

the organisation promotes its relationship with Stonewall as being a benefit

Yes it would put me off. Note if it would totally discourage me from applying, but if I worked there I know I'd have to really watch my step. Their presence does not foster a welcoming environment.

Go for it. If they are reviewing the relationship, your voice could be a valuable deciding factor. It won't change unless some critical thinkers join the organisation.

Not sure if it would totally discourage me*

Stonewall is a convenient name to put to this and their guidance is behind many recent initiatives that are to the disadvantage of women and girls.

However, the anti-woman agenda has been strong in the NHS for some time and at every level.

Thanks everyone for your responses so far. My thoughts on this at the moment are:

I'm disappointed and angry that some people would be put off of applying to work in the NHS because of Stonewalls's involvement. Surely everyone who might need to access NHS care (essentially everyone) should feel like they would be welcome to work there (assuming that they want to and have the right skills).

I remember the thread listing the Stonewall Champions and was shocked and appalled to see NHS organisations listed. Surely we rely on the NHS undertaking and knowing the importance of anatomy and physiology. I agree that it should have no place in the NHS.

I do think that this particular organisation have just copied and pasted from the Stonewall manual of 'how to recruit'. I've had a look at the Board member social media and there is nothing to suggest that it's any more than that.

I think I'll continue with the application and if successful, will tred carefully but try and influence from within while hoping that this is just going through a process to ending the relationship as others seem to be doing.

Thanks all again for this thread but also all that you've done to help me form my thinking over many months.

I would apply and work on changing things from the inside.

I'm disappointed and angry that some people would be put off of applying to work in the NHS because of Stonewalls's involvement. Surely everyone who might need to access NHS care (essentially everyone) should feel like they would be welcome

This is absolutely why no public funded organisation there to provide services to all have any business getting involved with a political partisan group.

As soon as any organisation takes one political position, they've immediately made themselves less accessible to everyone else. Just plain wrong regardless of what the politics are.