The Students’ Union condemns LSE cutting ties with Stonewall

By Jack Beeching

On 17 January the LSE Students’ Union (LSESU) and Spectrum issued a statement condemning LSE’s decision to end its affiliation with Stonewall, the largest LGBTQ+ rights organisation in Europe.

In 2019, Stonewall had ranked LSE as the 92nd most inclusive employer in the UK, based on its Workplace Equality Index. LSE has also been a Stonewall ‘diversity champion’, meaning that the School received consultations from the charity on ‘building an inclusive workplace’.

In their statement, the LSESU and Spectrum argued that withdrawing from these schemes ‘has the potential to create an environment where gender prejudice and transphobic language is justified under the guise of academic freedom.’ In response the LSESU has scheduled an ‘emergency town hall’ to take place on Tuesday 24 January.

According to the LSESU’s Community and Welfare Officer, Anaëlle Thoreau, “the SU has not been involved in any discussions regarding Stonewall prior to LSE’s decision. Now that the decision has been taken, LSE has told the sabbatical team to not inform students of their decision.”

LSE’s withdrawal comes after UCL became the first UK university to cut ties with Stonewall in December 2021, citing threats to academic freedom in discussions of sex and gender. Since then, the Universities of Edinburgh and Glasgow have refused to submit applications to Stonewall’s 2022 Workplace Equality Index.

In a statement issued to The Beaver, LSE said that, “Following discussion across the School community, and careful consideration of the range of perspectives shared, LSE has taken the decision to not renew our institutional membership with Stonewall.

“This decision does not detract from LSE’s unwavering commitment to LGBTQ+ staff and students and we will continue to build on our existing work to create an inclusive environment where every individual can thrive.

A Stonewall spokesperson told The Beaver, “As with all membership programmes, organisations come and go depending on what’s best for their inclusion journey at the time. We’re proud of our Diversity Champions programme which supports workplaces to create LGBTQ+ inclusive environments where all staff can thrive.”