The head of the organisation behind Britain’s biggest festival and pride parade for the LGBTQ+ community has been accused by unnamed volunteers of abusing his position as executive director of Pride in London.

The Guardian reported on Wednesday that Christopher Joell-Deshields, a Bermudian who has held the role since 2021, had been the subject of accusations by “volunteer directors and others”.

According to the newspaper, lawyers taken on by Pride in London were said to believe Mr Joell-Deshields was being unfairly targeted.

The allegations were said to include “misappropriation or misuse of gifts or company funds, behaviour damaging or potentially damaging to the company’s reputation, harassment or bullying of personnel and a ‘serious breach’ of bullying, harassment and finance policies”.

The Guardian reported that Mr Joell-Deshields had declined to comment, but had denied reports, also carried by the BBC, that he had been suspended while Pride in London’s board of directors investigated the allegations.

The BBC quoted volunteers for Pride in London as fearing the allegations could prove harmful for the financing of one of Europe’s biggest Pride events.

When contacted by The Royal Gazette, Pride in London directed queries to a statement on its website that acknowledged accusations had been made against Mr Joell-Deshields.

It added 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”.

Mr Joell-Deshields told the Guardian that he remained chief executive of Pride in London and “a director of London LGBT Community Pride CIC”.

He was further quoted by the newspaper: “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.”

Mr Joell-Deshields’s roles in Britain have included working as the assistant director and office manager of the Bermuda Government Office in London in 2009.

Previously he served as a business development manager for the former Bermuda Department of Tourism’s London office, after a lengthy career in the hospitality industry in Britain.

Efforts by the Gazette to contact Mr Joell-Deshields yesterday were unsuccessful.

The Guardian reported that concerns had been raised in July to Pride in London’s board by a company director, followed by a “formal whistle-blowing disclosure by a group of volunteer directors” last month, complaining of “persistent obstruction and unacceptable actions” by the chief executive.

The group also reportedly claimed his account had been implicated in the misuse of vouchers provided by a sponsor.

Mr Joell-Deshields has no association listed with OutBermuda beyond suggesting its “homecoming” theme for the 2023 Bermuda Pride celebrations. The group had no comment when contacted yesterday on the matter.

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