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# Government could withdraw from Stonewall employment programme
- URL: https://www.scenemag.co.uk/government-could-withdraw-from-stonewall-employment-programme/
- Published: 2021-06-02T12:30:23.000Z
- Updated: 2021-06-02T12:30:23.000Z
- Description: Liz Truss is urging the government to cease participation in the Stonewall Diversity Champions programme.
- Author: Rachel Badham
- Tags: News, Politics, LGBTQ, Liz Truss, Stonewall, Stonewall's Diversity Champions programme, UK, UK government

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/listruss600400.png)

LIZ TRUSS

Equalities minister **Liz Truss** is [reportedly](https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/liz-truss-urges-official-withdrawal-from-stonewall-diversity-scheme-9df7pvsrn?ref=scenemag.co.uk) urging the government to cease participation in the **Stonewall** Diversity Champions programme that seeks to improve LGBTQ+ rights in workplaces across the country. The Equality and Human Rights Commission has already withdrawn from the programme after raising concerns over its *“value for money”*, with Truss now encouraging all government bodies to do so.

Truss’s actions are part of ongoing conflict between Stonewall and the UK government, with the LGBTQ+ organisation saying on **May 24** that it has been subjected to a *“coordinated attack”* by the media, with outlets falsely claiming that the group had provided *“potentially illegal”* advice about equalities laws as part of the Diversity Champions programme. Stonewall was also accused of ‘silencing free speech’ in debates around trans rights.

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/stonewall_pride_london_2015-1.jpg)

Stonewall at Pride in London in 2015

In a [statement](https://www.stonewall.org.uk/about-us/news/stonewall-statement-misinformation-about-diversity-champions-programme?ref=scenemag.co.uk), Stonewall said: *“Over the last few months there has been a sustained attack on Stonewall’s Diversity Champions programme, which proudly partners with more than 850 leading employers to support their LGBTQ+ colleagues to thrive. We believe these attacks are threadbare and deliberately organised and coordinated to undermine support for our work to ensure every LGBTQ+ employee can thrive at work.”*

It refuted claims that the organisation aimed to ‘stifle free speech’, saying: *“Our Diversity Champions programme is simply a tool to help employers to embed LGBTQ+ inclusion across their organisations.”*

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/stonewall_pride_fac600.png)