Brown Shirts Around the Corner? Why We Must Confront Britain’s Slide to the Far Right

Yesterday’s scenes in London — tens of thousands rallying behind Tommy Robinson, violent clashes with police, and chants straight from the darkest pages of European history — were not an aberration. They were a symptom of something far more dangerous: a political culture that has normalised far-right populism and is increasingly dancing to its tune.… Continue reading Brown Shirts Around the Corner? Why We Must Confront Britain’s Slide to the Far Right

In the Image of God: a queer Christian response to the UK Supreme Court ruling on Sex and Gender Identity

This post was written for OneBodyOneFaith and was published on the charity’s website on Monday 26 May 2025 For it was you who formed my inward parts;    you knit me together in my mother’s womb.I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 139.13-14 On April 16, 2025, the UK Supreme Court delivered a… Continue reading In the Image of God: a queer Christian response to the UK Supreme Court ruling on Sex and Gender Identity

Trans youth are loved

In the summer of 2024, in the face of open hostility towards trans people and especially trans young people, in the media, social media, and in political life, the Trans Solidarity Alliance invited celebrities, politicians, and the general public to record short videos telling trans young people that they are loved. Here is mine.

The Oxford Union: The Commercialisation of Pride has Done More Harm Than Good

On 1 June 2023, I was invited to speak at The Oxford Union, supporting the motion “This House believes that commercialisation of Pride has done more harm than good”. It also gave me the opportunity to comment robustly on the Union’s decision to platform gender critical academic Kathleen Stock who espoused her transphobic views without… Continue reading The Oxford Union: The Commercialisation of Pride has Done More Harm Than Good

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

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

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

Equal in Soccer? As the World Cup reaches its climax, the diversity challenge facing the world’s most popular sport

Originally published on 11 July 2014 by San Francisco based Out & Equal Workplace Advocates, the world’s largest nonprofit organization specifically dedicated to creating safe and equitable workplaces for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. By Edward Lord, member of the English Football Association’s Inclusion Board Association Football (or soccer) is the world’s favourite sport, played by more… Continue reading Equal in Soccer? As the World Cup reaches its climax, the diversity challenge facing the world’s most popular sport

Sexism in Football: Scudamore apology ‘insincere’ and ‘unsustainable’ – is his position now untenable?

In his column in today’s Daily Mail, Charlie Sale reveals not only the names of the other dramatis personae in the Scudamore email saga, but also exposes the text of a message the premier league chief executive sent to his club chairs last Saturday warning them of the forthcoming Sunday Mirror story. In his note to… Continue reading Sexism in Football: Scudamore apology ‘insincere’ and ‘unsustainable’ – is his position now untenable?