Stonewall a ‘divisive and potentially dangerous group’, say PCCS

STONEWALL has been accused of becoming a “divisive and potentially dangerous group” over its views on women-only spaces by police and crime commissioners.

Philip Wilkinson, the newly elected PCC for Wiltshire, said that the LGBTQ+ charity had a “narrow ideology” after the county’s police force left Stonewall’s diversity programme after four years.

The charity said that there was no evidence their policies compromised anyone’s safety and that it was “disappointing that in 2021, this can still be thought of as controversial”.

Mr Wilkinson spoke out against the charity after Lisa Townsend, PPC for Surrey, said that Stonewall had become “a well-funded lobby group for a dangerous ideology”.

Writing to Conservativehome, he said: “I believe that we should treat every other human being with respect and courtesy irrespective of their sex, gender or sexual orientation. As a proud citizen of the UK, let alone as the Police and Crime Commissioner for Wiltshire, I will therefore not support any organisation that promotes a narrow ideology that is exclusive, divisive and potentially dangerous.

“I … agree entirely with the sentiments expressed by Lisa Townsend. Like her, I do not believe that the vast majority of women in this country wish to allow biological men into their private enclosed spaces such as women’s prisons and female toilets.”

A Stonewall spokesman said: “Trans people are who they say they are, which is why they have always been able to use facilities that match their gender, without issue.

“Our inclusion policies are based on evidence, and there is no statistical evidence to suggest that LGBTQ+ inclusion compromises anyone’s safety.

“Lesbian, gay, bi, trans and queer inclusion makes the world a safer place for all of us, and it’s disappointing that in 2021, this can still be thought of as controversial.”