THREAD alert! I'm not suggesting anyone is interested in my view and I have like a handful of followers, but this has been on my mind for a while, so i'm going to try and make sense of it - in public. i'm diving in! 1 https://www.thestage.co.uk/news/news/theatre-figures-claim-new-equity-leadership-is-needed-to-rebuild-trust-following-laurence-fox-row

everyone who knows me knows i'm a supporter of Equity and a now - I guess - longstanding activist. Equity has changed since I became a member, in fact, since I became an activist and conversations that would have been laughed out of the room are now being had 2

and the committee I chair (the LGBT+) has been able to do things with the support of the union that years ago wouldn't have been taken seriously. it was, for instance, uplifting to see Equity come out in full force in support of GRA and our trans siblings 3

Decisions that were made in the LF affair (I can't even spell out that name) were probably made with the financial survival of the union in mind, which, ironically, only shortly after the agreed apology became all the more important as money had to be found to suppport members 4

affected by the current health crisis (which is almost everyone, though probably not LF). I don't know if there's an element of Stockholm Syndrome here, but I think there wasn't bad faith there. HOWEVER 5

with all the good intentions, it is worrying that it wasn't seen or blithely ignored how going into lockdown mode (sorry, I couldn't help myself) and exclude the REC from the process would only be perceived as patronising ("let us do this, you don't need to know about it") or 6

exclusionary ("this is nothing to do with you"), how the REC's anger, which I can understand, regardless of whether I agree with the decision to resign en masse from the committee (my opinion is irrelevant here), and the REC's hurt, which I DEFINITELY do feel 6

was either not predicted or underestimated. The letter asks for the Task Force to be put on hold because it might, indeed WOULD lack legitimacy. It needs broad approval, for its decisions to have force. If it doesn't, it will not only be perceived as a band aid, but 7

the members of colour ON the task force will be exposed to undue criticism. I speak as a mere member here (and I don't know if I can play that card when I've held voluntary elected positions, but I am going to, so there!). I understand the need on the part of Equity to fix this 8

as quickly as possible. but there isn't a quick fix. and there is no ONE fix. Accepting that this will be a bumpy ride is OK. It's not damaging to the union to have this conversation; in the long run, it will be beneficial. It's no secret that... (cliffhanger) 9

Equity will have a major change in leadership very soon (d'oh!). And we can wait till then. That's what the letter asks. The other Equalities Committees are having their own run-ins with the upper echelons of the union themselves at the moment (happy to share, but not herenow) 10

The last thing I want to say is that the Equity Zooms In... meetings were initiated and are run by the Equalities Committees to embed Equalities into the wider industrial work of the union. We do sometimes feel like a ribbon, as opposed to part of the package (today is the day 11

for bad metaphors). If the conversation that now needs to be had, at the cost of it not being easy (it won't be), it will have been worth it. And I'm done. Fuck, this was long! I will never do a thread again 12

i'm breaking my vow already, by lengthening this thread. I just had a DM asking me why this thread in the first place. as i said in the beginning, probably for me - to clarify my own thoughts in my OWN head. i've found this really hard (not asking for sympathy) 13