Female organisation not only for females

[GrooveArmada]

I came across a professional organisation on LinkedIn which includes "Female" in its name and it's dedicated to female entrepreneurs. I opened the page description and read it's for "female and non-binary founders". Am I correct to think this isn't permitted? If they advertise themselves as female in the name, they should only be for women? Otherwise it is the case that a man holding himself as non-binary could join?

The issue I have with that is that this organisation is supposed to promote underrepresentated female founders in business and they advise on various associated grants etc. These should not go to men just because they choose to identify themselves as non-binary to gain access to support and funding that is there for women.

Should this be reported anywhere and if so, to whom?

You've misunderstood - I have no problem having women who consider themselves non-binary included. However, I can't see how an organisation for female founders, as the name suggests, could accept men identifying as non-binary. Which is why I'm asking what do people understand.

Their website says:

To apply, you must meet all of the following criteria:

“Be a female or non-binary founder of a UK-registered business seeking investment.

Have already secured some form of funding (including grants) or have SEIS/EIS advance assurance

Your business must have demonstrable potential for growth and scale.

You must have a clearly defined fundraising goal.
Your business must be in the technology sector (including tech-enabled businesses) or be a product-based business with an e-commerce component.

You must be able to commit to weekly sessions for eight weeks. These sessions will be held every Friday from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM, followed by a peer session from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM”

The criteria as listed here leave it open to males.
However elsewhere it says that it’s ok if there’s a male business partner as long as it’s an equal equity split with the female who wants to attend.

why not open up the application form and see what else they ask for?

Fabuloso/a

From their website:

To request information about membership please contact [email protected]

We know of course that the LibDem conference ended with the party awarding the ‘Patsy Calton award for exceptional women’ to a trans-identifying man, Chris Northwood.

The award is named after a woman who campaigned relentlessly for improvements in breast cancer research, for 'standing up for equality, affordable housing and for women’s safety’.

In a normal universe the Lib Dems would be a shoo-in for The Most Ridiculous Political Party of the Year but there is some pretty stiff competition at the moment. They do seem to be pulling out all the stops though to get first prize.