Andrew Tettenborn

Allison Bailey and the trouble with Stonewall

(Credit: Allison Bailey)

When a pressure group moves from promoting the rights of a minority to trying to micromanage the behaviour of the majority, we should be worried. When large numbers of organisations in both the public and private sectors dance to the tune of that body, we should be more so. Stonewall is a case in point, if the evidence given at an employment tribunal case decided yesterday involving commendably pugnacious lesbian activist Allison Bailey is anything to go by.

Founded in 1989 as a gay equality campaign group, in recent years Stonewall has diversified into aggressively promoting trans activism. As an organisation, it has also become pretty rawly commercial. A good chunk of its income of over £8 million a year comes from encouraging organisations – for a substantial fee – to join it, use its logo to show their progressive credentials, and perhaps become so-called ‘diversity champions’.

About four years ago, Garden Court chambers, where Bailey worked, joined Stonewall’s scheme.

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