Equalities charities step up row with PKC
Three equalities charities lodged a complaint to Perth and Kinross Council after an employee claimed LGBT organisations were campaigning to lower the age of consent to children aged 10.
Pink Saltire, Perthshire Pride and PKAVS Third Sector Interface forwarded the letter to PKC’s acting chief executive Barbara Renton and council leader Murray Lyle on April 12.
The three groups have now withdrawn from equalities work with the council for a month in protest. The charities believe the alleged smear “risks the positive reputation around equalities which the council and its partners have worked so hard to cultivate over recent years”.
The issue concerns an employee who was found to have made the allegations against LGBT organisations at a political conference during the Scottish Parliament election.
The same employee was also linked to calls to defund LGBT organisations, refuting “queer theory”.
On June 24, 11 weeks from the initial concern being raised, Perth and Kinross Council communicated that they have upheld the complaint, in so far as to confirm what was said, and that it was untrue.
The three charities are now calling for further action, including an apology and retraction from the employee in question.
In a joint statement released on Thursday, July 1, the charities said: “It is disappointing to us that an employee of Perth and Kinross Council, particularly one with such a key role working with families and communities, would espouse such dangerous rhetoric which contradicts the values of dignity and respect enshrined within our shared community plan.
“In developing that plan, community partners were agreed that promoting equality and supporting those protected by equalities legislation was a key priority.
“We remain concerned that the lack of responsibility from this individual presents a real risk of seriously undermining the local partnerships which have undertaken positive work around equalities in recent years, and feel a responsibility to our stakeholders and beneficiaries, in the third sector and our local communities, to impress upon Perth and Kinross Council the seriousness of this issue.
“We have therefore decided to withdraw from equalities work with Perth and Kinross Council for a period of 30 days.
“We note the council’s intention to review the complaints process to ensure a more effective system in the future, and look forward to working with them to redesign this process. However, the response from PKC on this occasion, and particularly the length of time taken to provide that response, casts significant doubt on Perth and Kinross Council’s ability to protect LGBT people, and others, from emotional distress.”
In response, a PKC spokesperson said: “We do not comment on individual members of staff. Perth and Kinross Council is committed to equality and delivering services which are fair and inclusive for all of our citizens.
“We remain committed to working with the people of Perth and Kinross and organisations like Pink Saltire, Perthshire Pride and PKAVS to combat discrimination and promote better human rights.”