LGB Alliance

Logo of LGB Alliance

The LGB Alliance (Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Alliance) is a UK registered charity founded in 2019. It describes itself as advancing lesbian, gay and bisexual rights and takes a gender critical stance, arguing that biological sex should not be conflated with gender identity. It was founded in opposition to the policies of Stonewall on transgender issues. Its claim to represent LGB people is disputed by the UK's major LGBT organisations, who argue it functions primarily as an anti-trans campaign group rather than an LGB rights organisation.

Background and founding

The LGB Alliance was established in November 2019 by a group of activists – including Bev Jackson and Kate Harris – who disagreed with Stonewall’s approach to transgender inclusion, particularly Stonewall’s position that trans women are women and its advocacy for self-identification in law and policy. In March 2022 Kate Barker was appointed Managing Director.

The Alliance describes its mission as advancing the interests of lesbians, gay men and bisexuals, highlighting the dual discrimination faced by lesbians, protecting children from what it describes as “harmful, unscientific ideologies”, and promoting free speech on LGB issues.

Gender critical stance

The Alliance holds gender critical views, believing that biological sex is fixed and should not be conflated with gender identity. Its campaign materials state: We believe it’s wrong for children to be labelled masculine or feminine on the basis of clothing or play/activity preferences and in some cases to be led to believe that they might be 'trapped in the wrong body.

In 2020 its stated goals included pressing pause on the Gender Recognition Reform Bill in Scotland, stopping the teaching of gender identity in schools, and highlighting what it describes as the dangers of medicalising gender non-conforming children.

Charitable status

The LGB Alliance was granted charitable status in 2021. This was challenged by Mermaids, the transgender children’s charity, which argued the Alliance was not operating for the public benefit. The challenge was supported by the LGBT Consortium, Gendered Intelligence, LGBT Foundation, and TransActual, and crowdfunded by the Good Law Project. In July 2023 the Alliance successfully defended its charitable status, with the tribunal ruling in its favour.

55 Tufton Street

In December 2022 it was revealed via a Freedom of Information request to Ofcom that the LGB Alliance had office space at 55 Tufton Street in Westminster – a building also occupied by a number of right-wing lobbying groups and think tanks including the Institute of Economic Affairs, the TaxPayers’ Alliance, and Migration Watch UK.

The LGB Alliance responded that the office “was chosen because it’s handy, flexible, and it became available at the right time”, and cautioned against drawing “conspiratorial conclusions” from its address.

Critics argued the address was significant, noting that 55 Tufton Street has been described as the primary base for right-wing lobbying networks in the UK. In December 2022 Twitch removed the LGB Alliance from its approved charity list, citing violations of its policies against hateful content.

Criticism

The LGB Alliance has been described by political scientists Christine M. Klapeer and Inga Nüthen as an anti-trans group. The LGBT Consortium has argued the organisation was formed to “promote transphobic activity rather than pro-LGB activities”. Sociologists McLean and Stretesky describe the Alliance as part of a wider network of gender critical campaign groups.

The Alliance’s claim to represent LGB people is rejected by the UK’s major LGBT organisations – including Stonewall, the LGBT Foundation and the LGBT Consortium – who dispute whether its primary purpose is advancing LGB rights or opposing trans inclusion. Many LGB people and campaigners have made the same argument.

Activities

In October 2021 the Alliance held its first major national conference in London.

In June 2024 the Alliance launched a live text-chat helpline called LGB Helpline for lesbian, gay and bisexual people aged 13–24.

In October 2024 the Alliance’s annual conference was disrupted when trans rights activists released thousands of crickets into the venue.

In May 2025 the Alliance described the BBC TV series I Kissed a Boy as “homophobic in the extreme”.