On 22 April Scope made a decision to cancel a performance by a Choir, the Singing Striders. The Singing Striders are a not-for-profit and all abilities choir. And they specialise in singing at running events. Scope would like to apologise to the Choir for cancelling their performance. We acknowledge the decision to cancel this performance was wrong. We acknowledge that our decision was against our commitment to the Equality Act.
We recognise that Janet Murray is entitled to hold and express her lawful gender-critical beliefs. The fact Ms Murray holds these views should not have influenced our decision-making. We should have engaged more constructively with Janet and sought clarification rather than cancelling the Choirs’ performance.
We appreciate the Singing Striders are a diverse group that do not endorse specific beliefs. Scope was mistaken in characterising the whole Choir as all sharing a particular viewpoint. Individuals in the Choir are entitled to hold their own beliefs and it is possible for people with different views to work together.
We accept that the decision to cancel the performance has caused distress to Ms Murray and to other members of the Choir. We also accept that the decision caused strain within the choir and some members are now anxious about future performances. And whilst we offered to reinstate the Choir at the Marathon, Scope apologises to the Singing Striders and its members.
We will treat this as an opportunity to learn. We will make sure that in future concerns are investigated fairly and managed proportionately. We are grateful to Janet Murray and the Free Speech Union for drawing these matters to our attention.