Every year, around this time, somebody asks whether Pride is still necessary. It is a question that usually comes from one of two places. Sometimes it is asked in good faith by people who look around them and see same-sex marriage, openly LGBTQ+ public figures, rainbow lanyards in workplaces, and Pride flags flying above civic… Continue reading Pride matters more than ever
Category: Equality & Inclusion
Kemi Badenoch is wrong about the Public Sector Equality Duty
There are many legitimate debates to be had about how government works. How much regulation is too much? How should public services balance competing demands? When does process become bureaucracy? These are all fair questions. What is not a serious contribution to that debate is Kemi Badenoch’s latest attack on the Public Sector Equality Duty… Continue reading Kemi Badenoch is wrong about the Public Sector Equality Duty
Fear, Fracture, and the Future of Britain
There are moments in politics when an election result is more than an electoral event. It becomes a warning light. This week’s local election results across England, alongside contests in Scotland and Wales, feel like one of those moments. Not because voters should somehow be criticised for expressing frustration. Democracy means precisely that citizens are… Continue reading Fear, Fracture, and the Future of Britain
Protecting women’s sport: a line drawn too bluntly – my message to the IOC President
Sport must safeguard participants and ensure equity and fairness, but this must be done based on science and fact and not as a kneejerk reaction to political or cultural pressure. Today I have written to Kirsty Coventry, President of the International Olympic Committee, whom I deeply admire and whose election I celebrated just over a… Continue reading Protecting women’s sport: a line drawn too bluntly – my message to the IOC President
British basketball’s future requires reform and major investment in the women’s game
Last night I was courtside to see the Great Britain women’s basketball team victorious over Austria in a Women’s EuroBasket 2027 qualifying match. The GB players were full of talent and enthusiasm and the atmosphere in the arena was fantastic. Hundreds of fans, including large numbers of young girls, many of whom were clearly basketball… Continue reading British basketball’s future requires reform and major investment in the women’s game
Beyond medals: why the Paralympics change the world
Standing in Cortina d’Ampezzo at the start of the Winter Paralympic Games this week, surrounded by athletes, officials and supporters from across the world, I was reminded once again why the Paralympic movement matters so profoundly. There are sporting events that entertain us.There are sporting events that inspire us.And then there are the Paralympic Games,… Continue reading Beyond medals: why the Paralympics change the world
A Church living without love: the CofE’s failure to include LGBTQ+ Christians
Yesterday I sat in the public gallery at Church House and watched the Church of England step back from the modest, careful and prayerful work of Living in Love and Faith, which was meant to move towards providing a loving Christian welcome for LGBTQ+ people in England’s established Anglican faith. I left feeling numb. Not… Continue reading A Church living without love: the CofE’s failure to include LGBTQ+ Christians
25 Years at Guildhall: opening doors in the City of London and beyond
Twenty‑five years ago, at the age of 29, I walked into Guildhall as a newly elected Common Councillor with far more opinions than experience and a touching faith that if one simply memorised the Standing Orders, everything would turn out all right. I still believe that last bit, although experience has taught me that rules… Continue reading 25 Years at Guildhall: opening doors in the City of London and beyond
Trans inclusion: what the law says and what it does not say
There is currently a great deal of noise, heat, and misinformation about what the law requires when it comes to trans inclusion in single-sex services and organisations. Much of it is being driven by a highly organised and aggressive campaign by Sex Matters, which has taken to threatening legal action against a wide range of… Continue reading Trans inclusion: what the law says and what it does not say
Hampstead Heath Ponds: A clear Judgment. A clear voice from London. And a clear path forward.
This morning’s High Court judgment refusing the judicial review application brought by Sex Matters against the City of London Corporation is an important moment for common sense, good governance, and decency. At the same time, the publication of the Corporation’s consultation on future access to the Hampstead Heath bathing ponds tells a powerful and hopeful… Continue reading Hampstead Heath Ponds: A clear Judgment. A clear voice from London. And a clear path forward.
C. E. Lord OBE 