Every major UK government department, including some of the largest such as the Home Office and Treasury, has pulled out of Stonewall’s Diversity Champions Programme (DCP), amid growing concerns over how the programme’s influence on government policies might limit free speech on gender ideology.
The exodus came amid growing concerns over the group’s influence on Whitehall’s internal policies. More than 15 ministerial departments contacted by The Times confirmed that they were no longer part of the scheme, though the initiative continues to attract major businesses, local government bodies, and universities.
Among the departments that exited were some of the largest, such as the Home Office and Treasury, joining hundreds of other public and private sector organisations that had previously contributed to the programme. Stonewall has long promoted the DCP as the “gold standard for LGBTQ+ inclusion”, but it faced significant backlash for prioritising ‘gender identity’ over biological sex and for allegedly favouring trans rights at the expense of women’s rights.
Last week, Eleanor Frances, a former civil servant who raised concerns about the promotion of transgender ideology, secured a significant settlement after claiming the civil service’s approach to these issues and single-sex spaces was unlawful. She was awarded £116,749 following an 18-month legal battle with her former departments, the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.
Frances argued that despite the civil service’s commitment to impartiality, transgender ideology had become so entrenched that expressing gender-critical beliefs – views she deemed “worthy of respect” – felt impossible.
Under the Equality Act 2010, philosophical beliefs, such as gender-critical views, can be protected from discrimination if they meet the Grainger Test. This test requires that the belief is sincerely held, substantial, and worthy of respect. While gender-critical views have been recognised as protected beliefs in some cases, they may lose that protection if expressed in ways that constitute harassment or infringe on others’ rights.
Frances’s case reignited scrutiny over inclusion and diversity policies within Whitehall department, and highlighted the ongoing tension between championing transgender rights and protecting the expression of lawful gender-critical beliefs in the workplace.
Workplaces that signed up as Diversity Champions received free entry into Stonewall’s Workplace Equality Index, often seen as a benchmark for LGBTQ+ equality. The Times reported in 2021 that organisations were awarded higher scores for aligning their policies with Stonewall’s agenda, which led to public bodies removing “gendered language” – replacing terms like “mother” with “birthing parent” or “pregnant employee”.
Women’s rights campaigners point out that these policies have unintended consequences, including allowing males who self-identify as trans women to access women-only spaces.
In 2022, following a campaign by Liz Truss, then Women and Equalities Minister, ministers were advised to exit from the DCP and instead implement an internal assessment.
The Ministry of Defence and the Foreign Office confirmed they allowed their membership to expire, and DCMS, Frances’s former employer, formally withdrew in 2022.
Frances, however, cautioned: “Leaving these schemes is not enough to undo their lasting influence. If organisations have incorporated biased or unlawful practices into their policies and strategies, these will continue unless actively addressed.”
Stonewall responded, stating that it is “common for organisations to reassess their membership based on their current needs,” adding that “there is an ebb and flow” to such decisions.
Despite the withdrawal of several government departments, the DCP initiative still attracts major corporations, local governments, and academic institutions, underscoring the ongoing divide over inclusion and diversity policies in public life. There’s more on this story here.
