Arts Council boss withdraws funding from ‘anti-trans’ gay-rights charity

Dec 4, 2022 by Jill

by Robert Mendick, Telegraph:

A senior figure at Britain’s biggest arts quango branded a gay and lesbian charity as “divisive” and “anti-trans” days before funding was withdrawn, The Telegraph can disclose.

The charity had been awarded a £9,000 Arts Council grant to make a film for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee but the grant was withdrawn after an outcry over claims of transphobia.

Separately, Arts Council England staff also posted comments about LGB Alliance, claiming it was “a cultural parasite and glorified hate group” that had “neo-Nazi” supporters.

At a meeting of 400 Arts Council staff, Simon Mellor, deputy chief executive, said: “LGB Alliance is a divisive organisation with a history of anti-trans exclusionary activity” and that it was “a mistake” to have made the funding award.

The grant was given by the Arts Council to a second body, London Community Foundation, which then made the grant to LGB Alliance. The funding offer was withdrawn by the London Community Foundation on April 19, five days after the Arts Council’s virtual meeting, although it is not known if the two are connected.

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