Trans activist defends being a Freemason
THE architect of a gender inclusion drive who campaigns for transgender rights has been forced to defend their membership of the Freemasons amid accusations of hypocrisy.
Edward Lord chairs the City of London’s establishment committee, which has begun a consultation on ending sex segregation in its women-only spaces such as public lavatories and changing facilities at landmarks in the capital. A Twitter row erupted yesterday as it emerged that Mr Lord, who identifies as non-binary and asks to be described by the pronoun “they,” is a Freemason, an institution that has largely refused to allow women to join its men-only lodges.
Critics noted that Mr Lord previously suggested gender identity was “of complete irrelevance biologically”, yet membership of a male-only organisation said otherwise.
One said: “So does this mean you will be campaigning to allow women into the lodges of the Freemasons as well? You know what with all spaces becoming mixed and all?” Mr Lord retaliated: “I take the view that I can best influence change from within,” posting a Freemasons statement that says trans men are welcome to join and trans women can remain members.
Asked about the alleged hypocrisy, Mr Lord told The Daily Telegraph: “It is something I continue to struggle with and continue to think about. If it was entirely up to me I would change things, but you have to take 250,000 members with you.
“I’ve spoken fairly freely on this subject and the fact that Freemasons could be more welcoming and inclusive The one area I would change is on gender.”
Helen Lewis, the associate editor of the New Statesman, told him: “I’m afraid I find it very hard to square your continued participation in the Masons with a genuine desire to smash patriarchy.
“I don’t have the luxury of trying to effect change from within … because I am not allowed in. You can see why that rankles?”
“I completely get it,” Mr Lord replied. “That’s why my preference would be that membership of Freemasonry wouldn’t be restricted on gender/sex, but we will never get to that point unless some people inside the organisation say: ‘Hey … why don’t we change?’”