Allison Bailey, the lawyer who founded LGB Alliance. (Allison Bailey/ Twitter)
Allison Bailey has lost her lawsuit against Stonewall but has won her employment tribunal case against her employer Garden Court Chambers.
Bailey, a lesbian barrister and co-founder of the anti-trans lobby group LGB Alliance, sued LGBTQ+ rights charity Stonewall and Garden Court Chambers, of which she is a member.
The so-called “gender critical feminist” claimed that “Garden Court took action” against her by launching an investigation and and withholding work from her over her anti-trans social media posts and her involvement with LGB Alliance.
She claimed that the chambers was guilty of victimisation and discrimination on the basis of her sex and sexual orientation, and that Stonewall caused this alleged discrimination because the chambers was a part of the charity’s Diversity Champions scheme.
Allison Bailey’s employment tribunal began on 25 April 2022 and the judgement was handed down on Wednesday (27 July).
The Employment Tribunal found that Garden Court Chambers had discriminated against Bailey and has ordered the chambers to pay her damages.
However, the tribunal ruled in Stonewall’s favour, despite Bailey having raised hundreds of thousands of pounds to fund her legal fight.
Bailey took to social media to claim her loss as a “success”, insisting she had “exposed” the charity, which champions trans rights.
A Stonewall spokesperson said: “We are pleased that the Employment Tribunal has ruled in a decision published today that Stonewall has NOT been found to have instructed, caused or induced Garden Court Chambers to discriminate against Allison Bailey.
“Our Diversity Champions programme supports employers to make their workplaces inclusive and supportive of LGBTQ+ employees. It provides resources, guidance and support for organisations who are committed to creating a workplace where everyone can thrive.
“We are incredibly proud of the inclusive communities these organisations are creating across the country, by going above and beyond the legal minimum to provide leading support for LGBTQ+ people at work.
“The case heard by the Employment Tribunal did not accurately reflect our intentions and our influence on organisations. Leaders within organisations are responsible for the organisational culture and the behaviour of their employees and workers. Stonewall’s resources, support and guidance is just one set of inputs they use to help them as they consider how best to meet the needs of their own organisation.
“We are proud to work every day for the freedom, equity and potential of every LGBTQ+ person, whether that’s fighting for LGBTQ+ Afghans to be resettled in the UK, campaigning so that lesbian and bi women can access IVF without paying £25,000 out of their own pockets, or securing a ban on conversion practices that protect all LGBTQ+ people from lifelong harm.”
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