The BBC’s legions of staff seem to be struggling to cope with, um, the news. The corporation has issued an emotional support notice for colleagues affected by events across the water, after the election of US President Donald Trump – with the Beeb gushing that its ‘commitment to diversity, inclusion and belonging remains unwavering’. How sweet.
The statement, issued by the BBC Pride Board, sympathised with staff members ‘particularly those in the LGBTQ+ community’ who may have ‘concerns’ about goings-on stateside. The note went on:
We know the Corporation firmly believes in creating an environment where everyone feels safe, valued and respected, no matter where they are based. If you need someone to talk to or require additional support, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Our Pride network is here to listen and act, and you can also access confidential assistance through the Peer Support Network or the Employee Assistance Program.
We are also planning opportunities to connect more closely as a community, including forums for dialogue where you can share your thoughts or let us know how we can better support you.
It comes after one of Trump’s first moves in power was to declare war on diversity, equality and inclusion programmes. The flurry of executive orders signed by President Trump included DEI crackdowns – prompting larger private companies like Goldman Sachs to follow suit. More than that, the US leader has ended policies that served to protect LGBT rights, including non-binary recognition to transgender identification on passports.
The Beeb appears to have taken a leaf out of the Guardian‘s book after the newspaper offered its employees Trump therapy following the Republican’s victory last November. Talk about an overreaction, eh?
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