Mick Hartley

A group discussion on the subject: Are gay people better off without Stonewall?

Stonewall has been at the forefront of the fight for gay, lesbian and bisexual rights for 30 years but today, the organisation that was instrumental in ending Section 28 and shaping the Equality Act, is under fire. Influential gay, lesbian and bi voices, including some its founding members, are distancing themselves from the organisation as a result of its recent focus on transgender equality. The Equalities and Human Rights Commission has withdrawn from Stonewall’s ‘Diversity Champions’ scheme, and Equalities Minister Liz Truss has called for all Government departments to follow suit. Defending her organisation, Stonewall’s CEO Nancy Kelley controversially likened gender-critical feminism to anti-Semitism in an interview for the BBC, compounding the fact that increasing numbers of gay and bisexual men and women no longer feel represented by the organisation that fights in their name. Pro-gay doesn’t mean anti-trans of course, but would the different forms of discrimination now be better tackled by separate, dedicated organisations? How long can Stonewall survive if more corporate organisations start to withdraw from its lucrative “Diversity Champions” scheme? In terms of gay rights, has Stonewall simply outlived its usefulness, or would the disintegration of Stonewall be a dangerous step towards unravelling LGBT rights?

It's an hour and a half, and I certainly haven't watched all of it, but here's Kate Harris, co-founder and director of the LGB Alliance, finally having the chance to tell Stonewall, in the person of former chair Jan Gooding, precisely what she thinks of them:

There's a transcript at the Glinner Update.

Key points:

"Can you explain to me why Stonewall is not supporting Keira Bell and every single transitioner whose life has been ruined because of your adoption of gender identity theory and queer theory? How do you feel about the fact that in the US today, there are 36,000 girls who are on a waiting list to have top surgery? Is that something that you can sleep with at night? Because I can't.

"So LGB alliance is focused on telling the truth. Having fact-based dialogue, telling the truth to girls, but it's great to be a girl. It's great to be a lesbian. You do not have to cut off your breasts and pretend you're a boy because you’re gender nonconforming. Stonewall, you are responsible for this. And I blame you for not supporting Keira Bell and every other detransitioner. I blame you for supporting men's involvement in (women’s) rugby. How can you do that!? That's clearly dangerous! And I blame you fundamentally for lying. Gender Identity ideology is based on a pack of lies. And everyone on this call who actually considers the background of gender identity theory and queer theory, knows that."