More than 200 charity leaders have signed a pledge to support trans people in the sector over the past fortnight, an event heard last week.
The event was hosted by the #StandWithTrans campaign, launched earlier this month by Charity So Straight.
Kevin Taylor-McKnight, organiser of the group, said the campaigners have been “completely blown away” by the response so far.
He said: “Charity So Straight exists to support everyone in the LGBTQIA+ community.
“However, at this point in time, we believe that it is absolutely essential that we shine a light on the most marginalised people in our community, because the time to speak out, and the time to stand up for the human rights of trans and gender diverse people is now.”
Charity sector has ‘huge influence’
Claudia Baldacchino, organiser at the #StandWithTrans campaign, said to those who feel the campaign is not relevant to their organisation: “If you are supporting people, employing people, working with volunteers, offering a service, or even simply interacting with others, it does apply to you.
“By standing with trans you are sending a message of support to those who may need support.”
Alex Whinnom, former chief executive of Manchester-based charity GMCVO, said sector leaders must use their power to stand up for trans and non-binary people.
“I know that charity leaders have a huge amount of power, soft power and hard power. They have credibility. You're in a position to speak truth to politicians, and the media and the public generally, and have some chance of being believed.
“You're in a position to inform and educate all the people that you work with, about what is the reality of trans and non-binary people. The reason why you should be signing the pledge, and standing up for us now is because it is morally the right thing to do.”
Emma Cusdin, director at consultancy Global Butterflies, said: “This initiative matters because you're standing alongside your colleagues in the sector. It's really powerful when we have many voices come together in a sector to say the same thing. So adding your voice to the quiet is really powerful. We know that can be scary. It comes with some challenges. But actually standing up and saying this is what we believe, is immensely powerful.
“We’ve seen it a number of other sectors do it as well. But I think the charity sector is really, really powerful, because you have a huge influence. You are very mission driven, mission led, you're very passionate about what you do. And there are people in your organisation, waiting for you to say something, to stand and to step forward.”
Cusdin said having CEOs talk about the positive experience of trans or non-binary people in society, but also in their workplace, is helpful: “You have a huge platform, please use it.”
Joanne Lockwood, founder of consultancy SEE Change Happen, said the advice she would give organisations is to document their statements of intent, and then stand by those public statements that you put out there.
“You have to make sure that you’re saying this is what we believe as an organisation. This is our red line, this is how we expect our people to behave. If you have those views, absolutely fine, you have your views, please don't bring them into office.”
Adi Daly-Gourdialsing, current affairs and engagement lead at online transgender clinic GenderGP, spoke about the importance of centring trans and non-binary people in conversations.
She said: “I think in the charity sector, it's especially incumbent on leaders to understand that the experts about trans and non-binary people are trans and non-binary people.”
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