Stonewall Equality Limited


 * This page describes the campaigning organisation; for other uses of the term, and for its origin, see Stonewall (disambiguation).

Stonewall Equality Limited, generally referred to simply as Stonewall, is a British LGB campaigning organisation. It was founded in 1989 by a small group of women and men who had been active in the struggle against Section 28 of the Local Government Act. It is often quoted as “ten men and ten women” – though people argue over who those ten men and women were. Sir Ian McKellen, Matthew Parris, Lisa Power, Michael Cashman and Olivette Cole-Wilson were chosen for The Reunion programme on BBC. Douglas Slater was featured as one of the primary founders in David Mixner’s book “Brave Journeys: Profiles in Gay and Lesbian Courage”.

Section 28 was an offensive piece of legislation designed to prevent the so-called 'promotion' of homosexuality in schools; as well as stigmatising gay people it also galvanised the gay community. Stonewall's aim from the outset was to create a professional lobbying group that would prevent such attacks on lesbians, gay men and bisexuals from ever occurring again. Stonewall has subsequently put the case for equality on the mainstream political agenda by winning support within all the main political parties and now has offices in England, Scotland and Wales.

Stonewall is renowned for its campaigning and lobbying. Some major successes include helping achieve the equalisation of the age of consent, lifting the ban on lesbians and gay men serving in the military, securing legislation allowing same-sex couples to adopt and the repeal of Section 28. More recently Stonewall has helped secure civil partnerships and ensured the recent Equality Act protected lesbians and gay men in terms of goods and services.

Stonewall also works with a whole range of agencies to address the needs of lesbians, gay men and bisexuals in the wider community. Their Diversity Champions programme offers advice and support to over 600 organisations including IBM, Barclays, Barnardos, DCLG and the Royal Navy.

Stonewall's Education for All campaign, launched in January 2005, helps tackle homophobia and homophobic bullying in schools and works with a wide coalition of groups.

More recently Stonewall has formed partnerships with organisations outside Parliament to ensure the rights and needs of lesbians, gay men and bisexuals are addressed in the wider community.

Stonewall has also raised public awareness in terms of civil partnership, through the Get Hitched guide, and on the changes to the employment regulations relating to sexual orientation through guides for both employers and employees.

In addition Stonewall promotes new research on issues such as hate crime, lesbian health and homphobic bullying in schools.

Stonewall Scotland and Stonewall Cymru do similar work in Wales and Scotland respectively.

On 23 September 2003 Stonewall was granted charitable status (Charity Registration Number 1101255).

Stonewall receives no public funding and raises all its money itself in a range of ways including donations, sponsorship, and fundraising events.

Stonewall does not promote trans issues, saying that it prefers to leave that to those organisations that specialise in that field.

Directors and Chairs
The current Chief Executive Officer of Stonewall is Ben Summerskill, replacing Angela Mason who was Director from 1992 to 2002. Laura Doughty and Ruth Hunt are deputy CEOs.

Jacqueline Davies was appointed Chair of Stonewall in 2012, replacing David Isaac.