“At Stonewall, we stand for lesbian, gay, bi, trans, queer, questioning and ace (LGBTQ+) people everywhere. We imagine a world where all LGBTQ+ people are free to be themselves and we can live our lives to the full.”
Stonewall were founded on 24 May 1989, one year to the day since Section 28 of the local Government Act banned the ‘promotion of homosexuality’ by schools and councils across Britain, and led to a total suppression of LGBTQ+ identities in schools. They have helped create transformative change in the lives of LGBTQ+ people in the UK over the last 30 years.
Founded by a small group of people who had been active in the struggle against Section 28, they knew communities needed a professional campaigning organisation who would fight for political and judicial rights as well as representation in the media, the workplace and more.
They have been part of every major fight for LGBTQ+ rights since 1989, including:
- An equal age of consent for gay and bi men
- The end of Section 28 in Scotland, and England and Wales
- Same-sex couples becoming free to adopt children
- LGBTQ+ people becoming free to serve openly in the Armed Forces
- Protection from discrimination at work
- The right for same sex-couples to have civil partnerships
- The right for LGBTQ+ couples to be legally recognised as parents
- The right for same-sex couples to get married
- LGBTQ-inclusive teaching in the national curriculum
They work with thousands of people every year to fight to make their community – whether village or city, school or university, bank or charity, sport club or faith community – a place where LGBTQ+ people can thrive.
Find out more about the work Stonewall do, its impact and how you get involved here.
