CPS leaves Stonewall

[CuriousaboutSamphire]

Someody help me.

I know I am not going mad, I just heard this on Radio2 news.

CPS leaves Stnewall, the legality of its advice having been questioned.

But I can't find it being reported anywhere, Google has let me down!

Anyone else hear it?

Anyone find confirmation elsewhere?

Or - what did I mishear?

Sorry, forgot twitter is difficult to read these days

1. NEW: The Crown Prosecution Service
   @CPSUK
   has told me that it has ended its membership of the Diversity Champions scheme run by the LGBT charity
   @stonewalluk
   It's the latest high-profile organisation to leave, following the departure of the
   @EHRC
   and
   @Ofcom
   .
   @BBCNews

2. Earlier this year the
   @CPSUK
   was forced to defend its membership of the scheme after a schoolgirl brought a judicial review to the High Court, alleging that membership of Diversity Champions was causing the CPS to be biased– a review which the CPS ultimately won.

3. However, it has now left the scheme. A spokesperson said: “The CPS is proud to have a diverse workforce and will continue to support our LGBT+ staff members in every way possible. “We have carried out a review of Stonewall’s Diversity Scheme and have decided to ...

4. ..end our membership. We are members of other schemes which help us respect the identities of our LGBT+ colleagues. As with other offences, we will continue to work with relevant charities to ensure we understand the concerns of different communities and the issues they face”

@stonewalluk
says: ‘As with all membership programmes, organisations come and go depending on what’s best for their inclusion journey at the time. We’re pleased that the CPS feel confident to continue the important work of supporting their LGBTQ+ staff, and we will continue...

6. to work with them to make sure that LGBTQ+ people are treated fairly by the courts. Contrary to some reporting, our leading Diversity Champions programme continues to grow, and we now work with more than 900 organisations to help create working environments in which all...

7. .. lesbian, gay, bi, trans and queer people can thrive.’

twitter.com/Obsolesence/status/1437385096642932744?s=20

"Are they remaining part of the workplace equality index with Stonewall, do you know? Like Ofcom?"

"They’ve just told me they won’t be taking part in that either."

Thread by Sex Matters on how Stonewall encourages places to go against the law:

Any organisation considering whether they should stay in the
@stonewalluk
schemes should consider that they are not in line with the
@EHRC
employers code of practice.

Why take the risk of signing up to a scheme that is different from the law?

sex-matters.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Sex-Matters-Understanding-Stonewall-Risk-080721-FINAL.pdf

Stonewall tells employers to "acknowledge the limitations of the Equality Act (2010)"

It advises against using language based on compliance with the law saying this is "outdated" and may "cause offence"

Ignore what the law says about protected characteristics says Stonewall guidance

"Gender Identity" and "Gender Expression" are treated as protected characteristics.

They are not.

"Best practice" monitoring is not in line with GDPR or Equality Act

Ignores sex, substitute gender identity

And more confusion and conflation of protected characteristics...

The EHRC said specifically in AEA v EHRC that this is not right.

It can be a proportionate means to a legitimate aim to have facilities which are single sex and which do not include people on the basis of gender identity.

No consideration of what this policy means for inclusion of women and girls, including those from faith groups.

"High barrier of proof"... this does not come from the Equality Act.

The Equality Act says circumstances where "a person of one sex might reasonably object to the presence of a person of the opposite sex".

Organisations should take care to comply with the Equality Act... all 9 protected characteristics.

Stonewall guidance does not help them do this and puts them at risk of facing discrimination and harassment claims in relation to other protected characteristics

If it is not reasonable to exclude someone of the opposite sex (eg a transwoman from a women's ward) then surely the alternative is a mixed sex ward? Mixed sex prison? Mixed sex refuges?

^ I told her about this today, and she grinned wide and nodded. Please, sexists and homophobes, enjoy the new generation of feminists who are learning to be persistent in standing up for their rights. You earned every one of them.^

This. to you and your courageous daughter.

@GreyhoundG1rl

CPS leaves Stnewall, the legality of its advice having been questioned. Fairly mind boggling statement. The Crown Prosecution Service realise it's been taking incorrect advice on the law from a lobby group, and acting on it? How the actual fuck did we get here?

^ This.

for your wonderful daughter, @TheBigBad. She sounds ace!

@ScreamingBeans

I think we all need to start writing to Feedback every time the BBC ignores a big story like this

I think the BBC did mention this, I heard it on radio news at around 3pm, I think, but when I searched the website I could find no mention at all.

The charity sector needs a big shake up, IMO. And a regulator with teeth.

@Ereshkigalangcleg

The charity sector needs a big shake up, IMO. And a regulator with teeth.

Saw an article only a day or so ago saying the government was looking for a new charity commission chief who would tackle cancel culture and get charities focusing on their core principles. (Think the reference was to the National Trust who got themselves into a mess after realising the history of many large English Estates includes links with slavery).

Ah, I hadn't heard about the National Trust thing. Interesting.

www.google.com/amp/s/news.artnet.com/art-world/uk-national-trust-chair-tim-parker-steps-down-after-report-on-ties-to-slavery-1973585/amp-page