Scope is punishing women for wrongthink - Whole choir cancelled from London Marathon because of personal GC views of one person

[singthing]

Choir dropped from London Marathon over founder’s ‘gender-critical views’
Charity cancels singers who raise runners’ spirits owing to Janet Murray’s opposition to gender ideology

A choir has been dropped from the London Marathon over a member’s gender-critical views.

The Singing Striders are frequently booked to stand on the sidelines and raise the spirits of runners, and the group had been invited to support the upcoming marathon by Scope, a leading disability charity.

However, the amateur ensemble was dropped because a single member had been critical of gender ideology.

This is the view that gender is defined by self-identification, rather than biological sex, meaning that those born male can become women.

Janet Murray, the choir founder, was informed that her opposition to this worldview went against Scope’s “commitment to diversity and inclusion”.

Charity bosses also told her “we are concerned about your views because we don’t agree with your views”.

As a writer and journalist, Murray has publicly expressed concerns about the inclusion of biological males in women’s sports and organisations such as Girlguiding.

It is understood that the decision to cancel the choir, which was to perform for no fee, came after Scope received two anonymous complaints about these opinions.

The charity has since defended its stance as it is “committed to the equality and inclusion of trans and non-binary disabled people”.

Janet Murray, the writer
Murray says it is ironic that Scope should bring politics into a space that was simply about supporting charity runners Credit: Belinda Jiao
Ms Murray told The Telegraph: “When cancel culture finds its way into something as joyful as a choir singing for marathon runners, it’s a sobering reminder of how insidious it can be.

“My choir exists to lift people up, helping them through the hardest moments as they raise money for charity. I’ve run the London Marathon myself, and I know how much that support means.”

The writer said that while she did have gender-critical views, they did not enter into her work with the choir, adding: “I leave politics at home when I’m with the choir – and so does everyone else.

“Ironically, it’s Scope that’s brought politics into a space that was simply about supporting charity runners – effectively silencing a choir in the process.”

The cancellation came despite the Singing Striders performing for Scope at past marathons without incident.

The London Marathon has several “cheer points” along the route to boost the morale of runners, and Scope has two dedicated spaces this year, at Tower Hill and Woolwich

The London Marathon will take place on Sunday
The London Marathon will take place on Sunday Credit: Karwai Tang/WireImage
The Singing Striders were set to raise a chorus at the mile-three cheer point in Woolwich, performing from 8.30am to 1pm, with minor expenses for travel covered by Scope.

The choir had practised for months ahead of the marathon, and members were understood to be surprised and disappointed by the decision, and hopeful that an organisation might come forward to offer them a space at the event on Sunday.

Critics of gender ideology have been subjected to cancellation since the issue of transgender identities emerged into public consciousness, with figures such as Graham Linehan, the Father Ted co-writer, being an early victim of censoriousness.

Graham Linehan on the trans debate and new Father Ted material
Read more
In 2024, the debate shifted again when the Cass review cautioned against rushing children into life-changing gender transitions, particularly with the use of potentially harmful puberty blockers.

Scope has defended its decision to cancel the marathon choir, stating that the move “reflects where we stand as an organisation and our commitment to our colleagues, volunteers and supporters”.

John McLachlan, Scope’s chief executive, said: “Concerns were raised to us about the views of the founder and director of Singing Striders, a choir who were due to volunteer to perform for us at the London Marathon. After consideration, we took the decision to not have their choir perform on our behalf.

“We understand and respect the right for people to hold different views about inclusion. At Scope, we are committed to the equality and inclusion of trans and non-binary disabled people. We have trans and non-binary colleagues, volunteers and supporters.

“Scope is committed to equality and inclusion. Our EDI policy sets out our commitment to be an inclusive employer and inclusive charity.”

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/04/24/choir-dropped-london-marathon-founder-gender-critical-views/
https://archive.ph/LXP0N

this will be another charity who will be bleating about falling donations, because the boys in high heels can’t drum up that much money ( and they are saving for a new negligee, anyway)

He isn’t in drag all the time so he is choosing woman face and they’re supporting it.

No one is in drag all the time, isn’t that part of the definition of drag?

Scope demonstrating that they are happy to include people who promote something (drag) that is offensive to some people, as long as the people who are offended are women.

I’d be interested to know how many females who call themselves NB or for a matter of fact some who call themselves TMs, would want a male giving them intimate care if they truly had a choice. It’s never really brought up.

If the choir is female only, somebody's going to be singing the Tenor and (high) Bass parts. TransSATB, as it were. So they'd be discriminating against people who are publicly subverting gender stereotypes in Music, wouldn't they?

Hi!

It’s The Sequel Trust
https://www.thesequaltrust.org.uk/ this is the one that helps with assisted communication.

Another good hands on charity that provides mobility aids is the MobilityTrust https://mobilitytrust.org.uk/meet-the-team/

I don’t actually have a Direct Debit with the latter but not for any good reason.

A lot of people don’t realise that people don’t automatically get the wheelchairs or accessibility aids they need or the best available. I find the idea that someone might only have access to an eye-gaze screen at school and not at home or vice versa quite obscene. These charities step in where NHS or Social Care provision falls short.

A typical example is a lad who had a wheelchair, but it was manual and basic because he has limited weight bearing ability, but he couldn’t keep up with his mates at school and out and about out of school, my husband was involved in an organisation which contributed to the cost of a power assisted chair that also raised and lowered so he could interact face to face with people too, - psychologically very different to always looking up at people who have to look down at you if they are standing. These things are very, very, expensive but can make a huge difference to quality of life.

Following on from @LightDrizzle , there is also a charity called Get Kids Going that provides good and/or quite specialised wheelchairs. I must say I haven't looked into their gender views, but they are a good charity because, unlike Scope and numerous other very wishy-washy organisations, they're super-focused on one thing and do that thing with commitment. They have helped young para-athletes, as an example.

Thanks for this. I've had a quick look at them and they both seem to be doing excellent, practical work instead of political grandstanding.

I know that there is a place for political advocacy, but for a lot of charities nowadays that is all they seem to do. Practical help for people who need it gets relegated to an 'online community' link.

It's not only spiteful... I see it as a warning to everyone, to encourage them to ostracise those with GC views...

Could there be a witch gender critical woman in your community? Do not associate with these undesirables. Seek them out, flush tem out, banish them. Otherwise we will find them and you will suffer, too

The other choir members might be GC, indifferent, blissfully unaware or committed TRAs. It doesn't matter. They are all paying the same price. They are collateral damage in the eyes of the cause.

The collective punishment side of this is one of the main reasons why Scope's actions are so shocking.

I noticed in the interview with the marathon event director that he only mentioned transwomen and not transmen when he talked about non-elite runners picking their category. It really is #allaboutthemenz, isn't it?

"Charity bosses also told her “we are concerned about your views because we don’t agree with your views”."

This is so pathetic, I'm surprised they would actually put it so plainly

Direct debit cancelled. Just about to send them an email to tell them why. I’m sure they do not want my bigoted money anyway.

I would go further and say it is a direct message to the rest of the choir. Get rid of your leader. Punish her for wrongthink. Banish her from something she values and enjoys.
The rest of the story is 'what will the choir members do now?'.

Its not likely to die out, because… men… but I’ll be grateful when women are allowed to reclaim our rights and the words that define us and when health and educational professionals stop transing perfectly healthy children and teenagers. Even that will take a long time as it’s been taking root insidiously but carefully and deliberately.

Appalling behaviour from Scope.

The choir should go, stand together on the route somewhere, and start singing anyway.

He has a choice to do woman face during this race. Since he’s advertised supporting Scope in a parody of women look - they are happy for women to be mocked and clearly happy that there is no female representation on their team.

It’s a choice when the drag is carried out. With children in library or with a charity that undermines women and doesn’t support single sex spaces for disabled children.

What someone’s fetish has to do with disability support - why not someone in bondgae gear and nipple clamps?

They've hidden all replies on X.

Guess what views those replies expressed?

We think trans rights and made up non binary feelings are supremely better than the rights of the disabled, safeguarding children, women, anyone who wants single sex spaces……

Oh maybe not?

Telling that it says 'these posts are not routinely monitored' but seems to be monitoring very closely today...

As has been highlighted on SM written into their policy is that they want to go beyond the law, which from past history seems to come down to ‘this is what we want the law to be, not what it actually is.’

They seem to have turned off comments on Facebook too

I’ve just filled this in and it didn’t require any contact details at all. I gave them a shortened version of my first name and a surname initial.

Let’s get them flooded!

I feel sorry for the Ordnance Survey

https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/news/ordnance-survey-agrees-exciting-charity-partnership-with-scope

Quelle surprise, mention and evidence on nitter that Scope has an ex Stonewall exec. It's the story of the big charities, same pool of people, they just all periodically swap seats and are absolutely unable to handle any actual diversity.

The Charity Commission need to get their act together.