The Department of Health has quit Stonewall’s controversial diversity scheme, the latest high-profile organisation to distance itself from the lobby group which is facing criticism over its alleged influence on public policy.
The government department cited concerns over value for money.
Stonewall says that its initiatives help organisations provide a better, fairer workplace for their LGBT staff. Critics claim that taxpayer-funded organisations are effectively paying a lobby group to lobby them, as evidence emerges of Stonewall advising members to rewrite their own internal and external policies to reflect the charity’s agenda.
A Department of Health spokeswoman said: “Last year we conducted a full assessment of all our diversity and inclusion memberships and Stonewall was one of those we decided to not renew. We informed Stonewall of our decision in October 2021.”
It costs a minimum of £2,500 to become a “Diversity Champion”. Member organisations receive diversity training for employees and are eligible to enter the Workplace Equality Index, a list of employers which Stonewall considers to be the best in the country.
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Freedom of Information documents have revealed how organisations that bring their policies in line with Stonewall’s position, including by replacing words such as mother with gender-neutral alternatives, are ranked higher.
A Stonewall spokesman said: “As with all membership programmes, organisations come and go depending on what’s best for their inclusion journey at the time. We’re proud to work with more than 900 organisations to help create working environments in which all lesbian, gay, bi, trans and queer people can thrive.”
