Stonewall (UK)

Stonewall is a gay rights campaign organisation in the United Kingdom. It was formed in 1989 by Labour Party activists who had been lobbying against section 28 of the Local Government Act. From the start, high-profile 'faces' such as Sir Ian McKellen and Michael Cashman were brought onboard. Stonewall is based in London.

Related Topics:
Gay rights - United Kingdom - 1989 - Labour Party - Lobbying - Section 28 - Local Government Act - Ian McKellen - Michael Cashman - London

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Although Stonewall was set up to be a professional lobbying organisation rather than a membership organisation, it has diversified into areas such as policy development for the rights of lesbian, gay and bisexual people since Labour came into power.

Related Topics:
Policy development - Lesbian - Gay - Bisexual

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It's most successful work to date has been backing legal test cases in the European Court of Human Rights. These have included:

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• teenager Chris Morris, who successfully challenged the unequal age of consent laws.
• Duncan Lustig-Prean, Jeanette Smith, Graham Grady, John Beckett who successfully challenged the ban on gays in the military.
• Lisa Grant, who sued her employer, South West Trains, for equal pay and benefits.

The chief executive of Stonewall, since 2003, is Ben Summerskill. He succeeded Angela Mason who held the post from 1992 and was awarded an OBE "for services to homosexual rights".

Related Topics:
2003 - Ben Summerskill - Angela Mason - 1992 - OBE

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Stonewall (UK): External link ►