Stonewall was founded in 1989 by a group of people who had campaigned against introduction of Section 28 of the Local Government Act. Their aim was to create a highly professional lobbying organisation that would put the case for equality on the mainstream political agenda by winning support within all political parties.
Our lobbying work remains vitally important today – our major successes have been:

• Introduction of Civil Partnerships
• Equalisation of the age of consent
• Lifting the ban on lesbians and gay men serving in the military
• Securing legislation to allow same-sex couples to adopt
• Repeal of Section 28
• Protecting lesbians and gay men from goods and services discrimination

We now run a major workplace programme engaging with 348 major employers with over four million staff between them. As well as our core Diversity Champions programme, we regularly organise employment conferences and leadership programmes and produce workplace guides on subjects such as career development and bullying.

In 2004, we established a policy and research function and in early 2005 we launched a new Education for All programme to tackle homophobic bullying in British schools. More recently, our work has also involved partnerships with organisations outside Parliament to ensure that the rights and needs of gay people are addressed in the wider community.

Since 2001, we have established offices in Scotland and Wales. Stonewall Scotland and Stonewall Cymru now work alongside local projects to support the lesbian and gay communities in both countries.

We have a vision of a Britain where one day every single person will not only be entitled to fair treatment and respect, but will be afforded fair treatment and respect too. Your contribution to making our vision a reality is crucial.  Thank you for taking part in this fundraising event.