London Pride boss suspended after alleged misuse of funds

Christopher Joell-Deshields has been chief executive of Pride in London since 2021

The chief executive of Pride in London has been suspended while under internal investigation for allegedly bullying a disabled volunteer and using vouchers donated by a sponsor to buy luxury perfumes.

Christopher Joell-Deshields, who has been in position since 2021, faces several allegations from the volunteer directors and others at the organisation.

Current and former volunteers have told the BBC they are worried the allegations could damage one of Europe's biggest pride events at what is already a "precarious" time for pride organisations across the UK.

Mr Joell-Deshields told The Guardian it would be "inappropriate" to discuss the matter in the press but claimed he remained in his role.

The allegations, first reported in The Guardian, centre around the misuse of donations and of a "bullying culture" at the organisation, which has more than a hundred year-round volunteers and three paid members of staff.

Mr Joell-Deshields is accused of using vouchers donated by a sponsor to purchase luxury fragrances as well as Apple speakers and headphones.

The BBC understands there are also accusations of a toxic culture at the organisation, including allegations made by a disabled volunteer who says they received bullying WhatsApp messages from Mr Joell-Deshields.

Those with knowledge of the matter have told the BBC there is a separate ongoing legal dispute over allegations the organisation's policies discriminate against disabled volunteers.

Following the allegations emerging, a newly-formed board of directors for London LGBT Community Pride (LLCP), the community interest company which runs parts of the annual event, have suspended Mr Joell-Deshields.

But in a statement, Mr Joell-Deshields appeared to suggest he did not recognise the new board's authority to do so.

He said: "I remain in my role as CEO of Pride in London and as a director of London LGBT Community Pride CIC.

"The current legal and governance matters relate to the organisation itself. These matters are being addressed through the appropriate channels, and it would be inappropriate to litigate them in the press.

"Nothing in this statement should be interpreted as an admission of any allegation, nor does it comment on any other individual."

Pride in London is one of the UK's largest pride marches and relies on around 1,000 on-the-day volunteers to run

A spokesperson for the current board of directors said they were aware "of a number of allegations and is taking actions to investigate these claims."

It added: "We are not in a position to comment further while these investigations are taking place, save to say that we take such allegations extremely seriously, and remain committed to upholding a safe, open and inclusive organisation that is compliant with its legal and governance obligations."

An internal letter sent to volunteer directors and seen by the BBC said that three directors of LLCP had been suspended and that a new board made up of existing volunteers would be created.

The allegations come at a time when pride organisations across the UK say they are experiencing a drop in financial support and volunteers.

Several volunteers at Pride in London have told the BBC they fear the allegations will damage the credibility of the organisation and make it harder to get new financial support on board.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, one volunteer said people initially found it hard to speak out because of the "very fragile" state of pride organisations in the UK.

Another said volunteers had grown "increasingly frustrated" at the "culture of bullying" which had "very much come from the top".

The BBC has approached Christopher Joell-Deshields for comment.