The attack on Australia’s Jewish community on Bondi Beach in recent days has left me shaken and heartsick. It joins a grim list of assaults on Jewish life across the world, including the attack on the Heaton Park synagogue in Manchester on Yom Kippur earlier this year. These are not isolated acts. They sit within… Continue reading After Bondi: grief, fear, and the hard work of refusing hatred
Category: Personal
A Church That Still Cannot Love Freely
Church of England: Reflection on the House of Bishops’ failure of leadership The Church of England’s latest decision on same-sex blessings and clergy relationships has left me questioning whether I can continue in the discernment process for ordained ministry—or even remain an active member. Once again, the Church has given in to the forces of… Continue reading A Church That Still Cannot Love Freely
50
13 January 2022 marked my 50th birthday and on Friday 14 January, I celebrated with a party at Guildhall. For that occasion, I prepared a slide show of me, my family, friends, and colleagues over the first 50 years.
Out in the Establishment: the gender journey of an outside insider
Last April (2020), an anthology of essays by thirty non-binary people was published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers under the title Non-Binary Lives, edited by Jos Twist, Ben Vincent, Meg-John Barker, and Kat Gupta. This is my chapter from that book. Introduction I have never felt totally comfortable in the spaces or boxes into which being… Continue reading Out in the Establishment: the gender journey of an outside insider
Talking to Middlesex Cricket about LGBTQ+ Equality
June usually marks the celebration of Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Trans, and Queer+ (LGBTQ+) Pride in London and in many places around the world. Whilst the Pride in London parade was cancelled this year, Middlesex Cricket ran a series of interviews and content features to champion the equality and inclusion of LGBTQ+ people – not only… Continue reading Talking to Middlesex Cricket about LGBTQ+ Equality
My final thoughts as Chair of Universities Scheme: Freemasonry needs to ditch 1950s attitudes
Today’s Universities Scheme conference at Freemasons’ Hall in London saw the end of my eight year tenure as Chairman of the Scheme, and provided an opportunity to reflect on the Craft and its future. In my valedictory address, I set out some thoughts about Freemasonry and the ongoing need for change, to better reflect modern… Continue reading My final thoughts as Chair of Universities Scheme: Freemasonry needs to ditch 1950s attitudes
Pride in London and my Queer journey – a personal perspective and response to @LondonLGBTPride
Yesterday’s release of the Community Advisory Board’s annual report into this year’s Pride in London, and the social media storm that followed, was an interesting and painful experience for me. Whilst the wave of euphoria that I have felt supporting the CAB from bi and queer friends, and from those who feel that Pride has… Continue reading Pride in London and my Queer journey – a personal perspective and response to @LondonLGBTPride
Why today’s LGBTQ+ Pride in London is a day of mixed emotions for me and for many
Today is Pride in London, the United Kingdom’s largest gathering of Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Trans, and Queer people together with their allies and friends and others whose life, love, or identity is marked in some way by difference. For me and for many it is a day of great celebration for the achievements of equality… Continue reading Why today’s LGBTQ+ Pride in London is a day of mixed emotions for me and for many
Diversity Champion: It is time for me to ‘come out’ – I am a Freemason
I like to think of my life as being an open book. Whether it be my membership of the Liberal Democrats (or even that I used to be a Tory), my passion for Rochdale Football Club, or my sexual orientation; it is all out there clearly on public display. I’m even reasonably open that I… Continue reading Diversity Champion: It is time for me to ‘come out’ – I am a Freemason
The ASA: I’m standing down as Chairman
This afternoon the following statement will be issued by the ASA press office, announcing my decision to stand down from the role of Chairman of the Amateur Swimming Association Group Board with effect from the end of this month. I came to the ASA for a very specific purpose, to lead it through a process of… Continue reading The ASA: I’m standing down as Chairman
C. E. Lord OBE 