NHS trust embroiled in trans row releases ‘divisive' Pride calendar
Inside, Pride Month 2025 contains graphics that tie each day of June to the celebration of a particular LGBT theme, showing flags representing a colourful variety of different genders and sexualities placed on different dates. Amid the vibrant images are flags for pansexual people – individuals attracted to 'all types' of people regardless of 'gender or sexual orientation' – and the polyamorous, which is defined in the document as a 'relationship style in which more than two people engage in intimate, consensual relationship'. Other themes include drag – to be celebrated on 7 June – with details later in the booklet about how it 'evolved' throughout then 1900s. And the calendar – which was sent as a digital file to the trust's employees at the start of June – also points readers towards works by 'prevalent LGBTQ+ authors', including trans writer Juno Dawson. How very curious…
The calendar has sparked outrage, with some at the hospital dubbing it 'divisive', not least because it comes as eight Darlington nurses – who were forced to form their own union to defend the rights of women – sued the trust and won their landmark battle for a female-only changing room at work. And it has also ruffled feathers after directing staff towards Mermaids, a trans youth charity that was embroiled in scandal after it emerged it had agreed to send chest binders – which pose serious health risks – to 14-year-olds without parental consent, while the Charity Commission found that Mermaids' guidance on puberty blocker safety was inaccurate.
For its part, a spokesperson for the trust insisted:
The calendar was developed and shared internally, during June which is nationally recognised as Pride Month, as part of the work led by our LGBTQ+ staff network, using time allocated through our staff network group framework… The calendar was intended to be a supportive, optional resource for staff. It was shared in a gentle and non-directive way, with no call to action. As an organisation, we are committed to creating a workplace where all colleagues feel safe, supported and respected.
Mr S wonders quite what the Darlington eight have to say about that…
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