In October 2019, attorney Allison Bailey co-founded the group Lesbian and Gay Alliance, which argues that there is a conflict between lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights. Her tweets opposing trans rights campaigns led to complaints being sent to her employer Garden Court Chambers (GCC), claiming they were transphobic. A year earlier, in October 2018, Ms Bailey had also complained to colleagues about the GCC’s involvement with Stonewall’s Diversity Champions programme, claiming the charity supported “trans extremism”. The lawyer claimed she had been discriminated against for her views and lost work and income because of her protest of the partnership between GCC and Stonewall. The criminal defense barrister told a court in central London that she felt she had been “offered an inferior case after an inferior pension” and felt she was being prevented from doing more substantial cases in 2019. She also accused the GCC of trying to “crush her spirit » an attempt to push her out of the company. Announcing its findings on Wednesday, the court upheld claims against Ms Bailey that she had been discriminated against by the GCC when they tweeted that allegations against her would be investigated under a whistleblowing process and when they found in December 2019 that two of the tweets it was likely to violate the basic duties of lawyers. The award of £22,000 was in damages for injury to feelings to that number. However, the court did not accept that she lost income or work because of her protest in 2018 or that she was the victim of “indirect” discrimination by the company. Ms Bailey also lost on her claim that Stonewall had instructed or induced discrimination by GCC. Ms Bailey lost part of her claim against her employer and the charity Stonewall (PA file) After the ruling, Ms Bailey said: “This is a vindication for all those who, like me, oppose the erasure of biological sex, women and same-sex attraction as material realities. It represents the judicial recognition of the abuse against us. “This case was never about money. I didn’t win everything, but I won the most important thing: I have brought Stonewall’s methods into the open and shown them as they are now. “It never occurred to me as I was building my career that the organization that would prove to be my biggest obstacle would be a charity set up ostensibly to protect people like me. “This case was funded by donations from thousands of people who recognized the wrong being done to me and others like me. It is a testament to the strength and determination of ordinary people: straight, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender.” GCC officials said they did not try to reduce the quality of the work she was offered, the court heard. They said they worked hard together to get her job and keep her in court and there was no attempt to make her face reduced income in 2019. Ms Bailey claimed the employee “changed substantially” in 2019 and recalled a time when she was offered two and three day trials. He added: “Make it clear that a lawyer has no future in chambers. There is not going to be any active practice development for them. “No care will be given to the development of their practice. The message I received was honestly overwhelming.” Ms Bailey founded the group LGB Alliance which argues there is a conflict between lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights – and opposes many of Stonewall’s policies (PA wire) Ms Bailey, who claims the quality of work offered to her has declined since early 2019, was set for a three-day trial in March on a charge of possession with intent to supply. He said: “I was moving towards setting up a practice where I might consider applying to be a Queen’s Counsel. Having a three-day intent-to-procure case is the kind of case that one would give to a new lawyer or a junior lawyer.’ Ms Bailey said the case was not beneath her, but a matter of “matching the job with the seniority and experience of a lawyer”. He said: “It seemed to me that I was an example of an employee that I had no experience of and one of the first cases he offers me is a very simple case that I would have done when I first did it 30 years ago.” Ms Bailey said she had raised more than £500,000 in crowdfunding from around 9,000 individual donations to fund her legal case. The court heard she was pursuing a case against her colleagues in the six-figure divisions. A GCC spokesman said: “We are considering today’s decision, which dismissed Ms Bailey’s claim against Stonewall and most of her claims against Garden Court Chambers, including all her claims of indirect discrimination. “Specifically we note that her primary claim (for loss of income due to victimization) was dismissed, the court finding that “We could not conclude that the loss of income was shown to be in any way (let alone significantly affected)” by Ms. Bailey’s complaint to colleagues that Garden Court became a Champion of Diversity at Stonewall or from her beliefs. “The court found that it ‘could not conclude that Garden Court Chambers as a whole had a practice of treating gender-critical beliefs as bigoted.’ This confirms our position. We have argued throughout that our members rightfully have different views on the complex debate surrounding transgender and gender-based rights. Our primary goal has always been to uphold our values and maintain a workplace that is inclusive and welcoming to all. “We are carefully reviewing the decision with our legal team with a view to appealing.” A spokesman for Stonewall said: “We are pleased that the employment tribunal has decided in a decision published today that Stonewall was not found to have instructed, caused or instigated the Garden Court departments to discriminate against Allison Bailey. “Our Diversity Champions program supports employers in making their workplaces inclusive and supportive of LGBTQ+ employees. It provides resources, guidance and support to organizations committed to creating a workplace where everyone can thrive. We’re incredibly proud of the inclusive communities these organizations are building across the country, going above and beyond the legal minimum to provide top-notch support for LGBTQ+ people at work. “The case heard by the employment tribunal does not accurately reflect our intentions and our influence in the organisations. Leaders within organizations are responsible for organizational culture and the behavior of their workers and employees. Stonewall’s resources, support and guidance are just one set of inputs they use to help them as they think about how to best meet their organization’s needs. “We’re proud to work every day for the freedom, equality and potential of every LGBTQ+ person, whether it’s fighting to resettle LGBTQ+ Afghans in the UK, campaigning for lesbians and bisexuals to have access to IVF without paying £25,000 your own pockets or ensuring a ban on conversion practices that protect all LGBTQ+ people from lifelong harm.”
