Stonewall has made a major error in letting its Chief Executive Ben Summerskill loose at the recent Liberal Democrat conference in Liverpool. His statements are now well known, but it has opened up a can of worms that Stonewall will want to shut. However, I hope that others will join me in looking at what they have said they will do

Stonewall’s key priorities for 2010-2011

EDUCATION

Challenging homophobia in schools and colleges and underachievement by lesbian, gay and bisexual pupils through development of the Education for All programme. Raising standards through local government, the teaching profession and young volunteers.

PROMOTING FAIR TREATMENT AT WORK

Further growing our Diversity Champions programme and also work with other employers and staff. Promoting pension equality. Continuing promotion of the business case for equality.

FAIR LIFE CHANCES

Putting equality into practice by promoting fair treatment of LGB people in the public domain such as the NHS, the justice system, housing, children’s services, sport and political representation.

SECURING EQUAL LEGAL TREATMENT

in areas where it doesn’t already exist such as a single duty on public authorities to promote equality. Influencing the development of public policy in areas such as blood donation and asylum.

Obviously this doesn’t apply to Equal Marriage. Maybe Mr Summerskill doesn’t see the problem with the two tiered approach. If you believe in fighting for equality: then you do so, unequivocally. If not, get off your private soapbox, and go home.

MEDIA

Promoting fair and representative coverage in the print and broadcast media.

So, just to be clear, the reporting of the DELGA fringe meeting at Liberal Democrat Conference has to be fair and representative, [or maybe it is only the ‘fair and representative coverage’ of Stonewall? -Ed.] yet it seems that Stonewall has spent money stopping fair comments on what happened on the Pink News website (see the “clarification“) Hardly looks like they are living up to their key priorities. Perhaps, because it is so far down the list, Mr Summerskill hasn’t actually read that far.