Communities

Report with our partners Vodafone Foundation and Galop, which analysed data generated by the Zoteria app in the first year of use and revealed vital insights into anti-LGBTQ+ hate crime. 

The app (closed, as of 16 February 2026), allowed people to flag anti-LGBTQ+ hate incidents - and connected users with support services. If you experience or witness a hate incident, you can still report it and access the same specialist help directly through Galop.

The report uncovers vital insights into anti-LGBTQ+ hate crime, an issue which continues to impact the community.  

This report and the data from the app sheds light on how technology and data can help tackle anti-LGBTQ+ hate in the UK. Flagging encounters on the app also helps to build a more accurate picture of anti-LGBTQ+ hate in the UK.  

The app's data highlights that Zoteria is filling a gap for people who feel less able to request support or report an encounter, or who cannot access services. The report comes shortly after the Home Office’s official reported hate crime statistics were released in England and Wales, and could help us understand the full picture.   

It also follows 2021 research by Galop, which found that only one out of eight hate crimes were officially reported, and just one in five hate crime victims and survivors were able to access support. In this report, Galop – which runs the UK’s National LGBTQ+ Hate Crime Helpline – said that verbal abuse from strangers is often normalised and dismissed and not reported.  Research from the government’s National LGBT Survey (2017) also showed that over 90% of respondents hadn’t reported their most serious instance of hate crime.  

Zoteria report key findings  

For those who wish to access support, apps like Zoteria provide a discreet and safe means to direct users to appropriate services.  

The report finds that: 

• Of all reports made on the app three in five were made outside of major queer cities. 
• Trans victims and survivors request support in greater numbers: 20% of those with a trans history requested support from Galop, contrasting with 13% of those with non-trans history.  
• Verbal abuse was, by far, the most frequently reported type of encounter (459 encounters), followed by hate speech (307 encounters). 

Klara Wertheim, Head of Global Programmes at Stonewall, said: “The Zoteria app has been a vital tool in supporting LGBTQ+ people affected by hate and helps us better understand where hate occurs and who it affects. This report is a vital reminder of how mobile technology can provide far greater accessibility to reporting hate and accessing advice.  

“What's clear from these findings is that anti-LGBTQ+ hate permeates everywhere. This work could help us tackle anti-LGBTQ+ hate by preventing it happening in the first place and provide better tailored support services to victims. Zoteria is proof that, LGBTQ+ or not, we can all play a role in standing up to hate whenever we see it.” 

Zoteria is closed and no longer available to download. If you experience or witness a hate incident, you can still report it and access the same specialist help directly through Galop.

We’re also tackling anti-LGBTQ+ hate crime with our Hold My Hand campaign, get involved today.  

It’s important to note that Zoteria is not linked to the police and is not an emergency app. If you, or anyone you are with, are in danger, you should still call 999 for emergency services.

The Senedd election took place on 6th May 2021. 

For the election, each of the main political parties published their manifestos, which tell us what they want to get done over the next Senedd term.

Prior to the election we highlighted the relevant sections in the major party’s manifestos below.

Thank you to everyone who has been encouraging their candidates to commit to LGBT+ equality. 

Whatever your priorities are this election, take a look at the commitments parties are making to LGBT+ equality. Find out who your local candidates are and ask them where they stand on LGBT equality. Share what is important to you in this election using the hashtag #CymruComeOutVoting.

The path to LGBTQ+ equality has always been one requiring enormous courage, endless conversations and effective collaboration. 

It has also at times been fraught with challenge, that is certainly true in the last few years.

It is absolutely vital we do not lose those hard gained rights and that we keep making progress to get the UK back on track to be the number one country for LGBTQ+ rights.

Across the UK the vast majority of the public support equality. Most people believe that everyone has the right to be who they are, and to choose who, and how, they love. We, thankfully, live in a different world to the one in which Stonewall was founded in 1989; a world in which the pernicious Section 28 was law and equal marriage was almost unthinkable. Our society has changed enormously. 

So much progress has been over the past three decades. As a nation, we should be hugely proud of the advances that have been made both in law and culturally. Equally, we should all be concerned about the divisive rhetoric and entrenched positions that have permeated public discourse and policy making in recent years. 

It is against this backdrop, that I take on the role as CEO of Stonewall. In 1989, I was growing up gay in rural England, pre internet and smart phone, feeling isolated and alone. Despite living in the face of an HIV epidemic that would shape and devastate the lives of so many of my peers, homophobia was rife and there was an absence of accurate information at home, at school or in the community to help us. 

The cultural and legislative framework was a far cry from what it is now. But, in 2024, the truth is there is still much to be done to achieve equality and ensure everyone can lead fulfilling lives, without fear of prejudice, discrimination and harm. This is borne out by the data. Over the last 5 years, in England and Wales, hate crime based on sexual orientation has risen by 112% and by 186% for trans people. 

Stonewall's own research with Optimum shows that today on our shared streets, less than half of LGBTQ+ people feel safe holding their partner’s hand in public. I am one of those who doesn’t feel safe to hold the hand of my partner of 20 years in London, our capital city. 

This is reflected in our position on the world stage too. In 2015 the UK’s legal framework for LGBTQ+ rights topped the ILGA-Europe leader board ahead of 48 other countries. In 2024, less than a decade later, sadly we have dropped to 16th position. 

I have spent 30 years working on equality and social justice and I have learned this: empathy is built, and change created, through conversation, dialogue and alliances. This is even more so in an increasingly polarised world. Achieving equal rights for some, does not mean reducing the rights of others. If we work together from first principles of respect, tolerance and fairness we can achieve progress that benefits us all, irrespective of gender identity, religious beliefs or sexual orientation. 

We all stand to gain when we work toward a positive common goal. It was in this spirit, exactly a decade ago, that equal marriage was possible in England and Wales, and the rest of the UK shortly after. 

As Martin Luther King said 'the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice'. I am hopeful that my time at Stonewall will be one where we come together and ensure the UK once again leads the way in LGBTQ+ equality. In times of uncertainty, economic turmoil and global conflict, we all do well to remember that human rights is not a zero sum game; we are stronger when we all stand together in solidarity, alongside all lesbian, gay, bi and trans people, and that true equality benefits every single one of us.

• A new report, Ace in the UK, by Stonewall and activist Yasmin Benoit uncovers for the first time the shocking experiences of healthcare, workplace and societal discrimination that ace people face in the UK and the need for better legal and policy protections 
• The report reveals that ace people, an umbrella term used to describe people who experience little, fluctuating or no sexual attraction (including asexuality) are less likely to be open about their orientation to friends and family – with analysis of Government data showing that only one in four (26.1%) asexual people are open about their sexuality with friends 
• The report highlights that ace people face hostile work and healthcare environments, with experiences ranging from sexual harassment, delays to vital healthcare, and intrusive questions about their sexuality from colleagues and healthcare professionals 
• The report’s recommendations include ensuring that asexual people are protected under the Equality Act’s guidance and that ace people’s needs are included in wider LGBTQ+-specific training for healthcare providers. 

A new report by Stonewall and Yasmin Benoit – two years in the making – explores in-depth the experiences of ace people when accessing healthcare and at work. Ace people make up between 1-2% of the general population but their experiences are not well understood by the general public. Ace in the UK reveals the alarming lack of understanding that they face throughout society – and the effect that has on their ability to go about their daily lives. The report highlights that, even within LGBTQ+ spaces, ace people are too often overlooked and their concerns ignored. 

At work, half of ace people (49%) weren’t out to any colleagues, more than twice the rate of all LGBTQ+ respondents (18%).

And of those who were out, only one in six (17.6%) had a universally positive experience of being out – again half the rate of wider LGBTQ+ respondents (40.8%). With experiences of sexual harassment, disbelief and inappropriate curiosity from colleagues told through our focus groups and interviews, there is a clear need for action on workplace discrimination and harassment. 

In healthcare settings, our analysis found that asexual people were around 50% more likely to have never told healthcare staff about their asexuality, with a quarter (24.3%) citing that they were afraid of a negative reaction, and 8.4% citing that they had had a bad experience in the past.

Indeed 18.1% of ace respondents said a disclosure had had a negative impact on their care. Issues in healthcare settings were principally in reproductive health, around smear tests, and inappropriately having their asexuality assessed as a mental health condition.  

Amongst a range of recommendations, the report urges the World Health Organisation to end its classification of asexuality as a mental health condition, as it did for homosexuality and trans people, to include asexual people in the Statutory Guidance for the 2010 Equality Act, calls for increased training on supporting asexual people in healthcare settings, and a ban on conversion therapy to attempt to ‘cure’ ace people. 

Robbie de Santos, Director of Communications and External Affairs at Stonewall, (he/him) said: ‘This report shines a long-overdue light on the barriers that ace people in the UK face. It’s vital that all LGBTQ+ people are allowed to go about their lives free from discrimination and prejudice.  But – as our findings show – there are widespread societal misconceptions of what it means to be ace and how to best support ace people at work and in healthcare settings.  

‘We hope that this important project will further people’s understanding of the very real challenges that ace people currently face and we urge political leaders to adopt our recommendations to better support ace people to get their basic needs met and thrive as themselves.’ 

Yasmin Benoit, Asexual Activist and Researcher, (she/her) said: "The ace community deserves legal recognition. We deserve protection. We deserve acceptance, and we deserve to be heard. With this report, I wanted to dig into the issues facing the ace community today and amplify the voices we never usually hear. This is a much-needed step in understanding what asexuality is, what asexual discrimination looks like and setting the ball in motion for actually doing something about it. It's time that the world paid attention. I'm grateful that I've had the chance to start this project with an accomplished organisation like Stonewall, and to use my platform and education to publish a report that is really going to make a difference." 

Focus group participant describing their experience opening up about their asexuality: 

 ‘I've tried to explain to someone that I am asexual, and they said ‘You know, there's something wrong with you. You probably need to pray about it’… I remember feeling inferior about [who I am].” 

Visit our Ace Hub.

Every year on 8 March, we mark International Women’s Day: celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women, and raising awareness of the barriers and discrimination they still face around the world.  

Today, we would like to highlight and celebrate the work we are doing as part of the Out of the Margins project, aimed at supporting lesbian, bi and trans women (LBT+ communities) globally.  

Across the globe, LBT+ communities are excluded by international movements and the systems that should serve them. The Out of the Margins project strives to promote and protect the rights of LBT+ women across the world, through strengthening the capacity of local civil society organisations. This work is informed by the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), developed in 2015 to create achievable steps towards peace and prosperity for people and the planet by 2030.  

Out of the Margins draws on three specific SDGs: ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages; achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls; and promoting peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, providing access to justice for all and building effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels. 

Using these SDGs as a framework highlights how the experiences of LBT+ women are inextricably linked to other issues happening globally - this is not often accounted for in international development programs.  

LBT+ women experience multiple inequalities across gender equality, health, human rights and development spaces, resulting in high levels of stigma, discrimination and violence. For example, LBT women are more likely (31%) than gay, bi, and trans men (21%) to experience food insecurity. 

There is also a high prevalence, and specific experiences of violence, against LBT+ women including intimate partner violence, family violence, sexual violence, and police violence. In recent times this has been exacerbated by the global anti-rights movement working to diminish the rights of women and LGBTQ+ people globally.  

Out of the Margins was established in 2017, with the support of FCDO, to advance LBT+ rights through research centred on the SDGs and rooted in local communities, using network-building and advocacy.  

In 2024, we have reactivated this network to tackle the impacts of the anti-rights movement and the rollback of LBT+ rights, and to seize opportunities of the SDGs in the lead-up to 2030. With three partners in the Caribbean, Southern Africa, and Eastern Europe, we will develop innovative local strategies to counter anti-rights movement tactics, focusing on SDGs priorities to advance LBT+ rights. 

Local learnings will be shared with the global network through an interactive digital platform and peer learning events, to strengthen technical and legal knowledge and skills across civil society organisations. This will create a sustained network of informed, enabled community leaders linked globally on advancing LBT+ rights, and ensure they are part of development initiatives. 

This network will share resources and toolkits to increase participation, effectiveness and impact of LBT+ organisations and across civil society globally. Their advocacy will raise awareness of LBT+ needs, and promote positive action by governments, donors and multilaterals to commit to LBT+ rights through the SDG 2030 opportunities. 

Together, we’re fighting for a world where lesbians, bi women and trans people are fully included in their societies, and finally brought Out of the Margins. 

Visit Out of the Margins for more information. 

Stonewall's Chair of Trustees, Cat Dixon, on the power of visibility, representation, and creating change for the lesbian community.

As a lesbian, I sometimes feel caught between visibility and invisibility. My decision to come out at work which, I first did in the 1990s, and be openly lesbian and embrace my authentic self, was at the time, and still is, an act of defiance against societal norms and expectations.

I remember being asked questions like whether I was “the husband” and I suspect many struggled to know quite what to make of me! Despite, being “out”, I didn’t want my sexuality to totally define me – it is a fundamental part of me, but I have always preferred to be seen and judged on what I do and the person I am, as opposed to being “the lesbian”.

Being a visible lesbian and women leader in my role as CEO of Ciarb and Chair of Stonewall, however, is not just about being seen; it is about reclaiming space, challenging stereotypes, and advocating for LGBTQ+ rights. In a world that still, and increasingly, struggles with acceptance and equality for the LGBTQ+ community, visibility is a form of resistance and empowerment.

Visibility is not just about being seen; it is about being heard, represented, and respected. It is about breaking the silence and speaking out against discrimination, prejudice, and injustice and this is why I am the Chair of Stonewall. I have experienced direct discrimination at work because of my sexuality which resulted in me leaving the Army and other form of discrimination both in and out of work including exclusion, verbal abuse and, at times, the threat of violence.

Being a visible lesbian means living openly and unapologetically as a lesbian woman. It means refusing to hide or downplay your identity for the comfort of others. It means being proud of who you are and celebrating your queerness in all its forms.

One of the key reasons why visibility is important for me as a lesbian is therefore representation. Representation matters because it validates our existence, our experiences, and our identities. When we see other lesbians and others from the GBTQ+ community being visible and unapologetic, it sends a powerful message that we are not alone, that we are part of a vibrant and diverse community. Representation also challenges stereotypes and misconceptions about lesbians, showing the world that we come in all shapes, sizes, and colours.

Visibility also plays a crucial role in advocacy and activism. When we are visible, we have the opportunity to educate others about LGBTQ+ issues, raise awareness about the challenges we face, and advocate for change. Our visibility can inspire and empower other LGBTQ+ individuals to embrace their identities and speak out against discrimination. By being visible, we can create a ripple effect of change that extends far beyond our own lives.

My own experience as a visible lesbian has been both empowering and challenging. Coming out was a deeply personal and liberating experience, but it also came with its share of fear, shame and uncertainties. I have faced discrimination, prejudice, and microaggressions, but I have also found support, acceptance, and love within the LGBTQ+ community. Being visible has allowed me to connect with the LGBTQ+ community, share my story, and advocate for LGBTQ+ rights.

In my journey towards visibility, Stonewall has played a crucial role in supporting and empowering LGBTQ+ individuals. Stonewall, through advocacy, education, and campaigns, has been at the forefront of the fight for LGBTQ+ rights in the UK and beyond. Stonewall has changed laws, policies, and attitudes towards LGBTQ+ individuals, making the world a more inclusive and accepting place.

So for me, being a visible lesbian is about more than just visibility; it is about authenticity, advocacy, and empowerment. It is about embracing who we are, challenging the status quo, and fighting for a more just and inclusive world.

By being visible, we can inspire others, create change, and pave the way for a more accepting future. Together, we can make a difference and create a world where all LGBTQ+ individuals can live openly, proudly, and authentically.

Happy Lesbian Visibility Week.

Visit our Lesbian Hub.

What is Trans+ History Week? 

Founded by QueerAF, Trans+ History Week (6 – 12 May 2024) is a week to learn and celebrate the rich and long history of trans, non-binary, gender diverse, and intersex people. It is a time to reflect and educate on trans history and identities. As the organisers say, “knowledge of our past is absolutely fundamental for our future liberation”.  

At a time where anti-trans rhetoric is on the rise and hate crimes against trans people have risen by 186% in the last five years, now more than ever we need to uplift the trans community, and send a clear message: trans people have always been here.  

Trans+ History Week begins on 6 May, a date deliberately chosen as it is the anniversary of the Nazi raid on the world’s first ever trans clinic in 1933. The Institute of Sexology, an academic foundation carrying out research on sexuality and gender and advocating for LGBTQ+ rights, was broken into and had the entire contents of its library burned.  

So why do we need Trans+ History Week? 

To remember and that trans people have always been here. 

Today, there is a rising narrative in some circles that trans and gender non-confirming identities are a new ‘trend’ – but if you speak to trans people about what it is like to be trans, you will understand how deep-rooted and profound their own internal experience of gender is to them and their identity. Older trans people will often speak to how they have always felt this way, even if they didn’t necessarily have the words to describe it, like we do today. 

To say that trans identities are unique to the 21st century is not just damaging to trans people, it is untrue. Although the term ‘transgender’ wasn’t coined until the 1960s, people have been subverting the gender binary since ancient times, across cultures.. For example:  

• c 300 BCE - c 400 CE: The Galli, priests in the cult of Cybele, occupied a third-gender space in Roman society and spread as far as the British Isles. 
• c 1479 - 1458 BCE: Joan of Arc was willing to die at the stake rather than stop wearing men’s clothing. 
• 1946: Michael Dillon becomes the first transgender man to undergo phalloplasty across 13 surgeries.  

The 2021 Census was the first time that LGBTQ+ people were included in the national data, and for the first time, there was a question about gender identity. The Census revealed that 0.5% of the population in England and Wales have a gender identity that is different from the one they were assigned at birth, a figure in line with the census in Canada. Trans people are a very small group in our society, but need our respect and support more than ever.  

Download QueerAF’s Trans+ History Week workbook to learn more about the key dates in trans history.  

A time to celebrate the diversity of the trans community 

We can take this week as an opportunity to spotlight the diversity of the trans community, and learn more about the expansive trans identities from different countries and cultures. Trans communities and gender diversity have thrived across the world for centuries; after all, they’re not new or unique to only one culture, time or demographic. 

For example, the hijra community in South Asia. ‘Hijra’ is often used as an umbrella term to encompass a range of gender non-conforming identities. In South Asia, the Hijra have been historically categorised as a third gender, distinct from the male and female binary. They have a long history going back to the 13th century and play a unique role in the cultural and social fabric of the region. Watch our short film documentary about the Hijra community to learn more.  

To recognise that trans people have always been at the heart of LGBTQ+ liberation 

Trans and gender diverse people are, and have always been, integral to LGBTQ+ movements across the globe. In fact, trans people were at the heart of the Stonewall uprising in New York City back in 1969, the moment in history from which we take our name, and which prompted LGBTQ+ rights movements around the world and led to the existence of Pride as we know it. 

Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera were among those on the frontline at the Stonewall uprising, risking their lives to fight for LGBTQ+ liberation and equality. Marsha was vocal about the exclusion of trans people from the mainstream gay rights movement in the 70s, advocating for a LGBTQ+ rights movement that included everyone.  

Without these revolutionaries – LGBTQ+ liberation might look very different.  

Want to learn more? Dive into trans history with these resources 

This is a week for reflection, education, and celebration of the beautiful and complex history of the trans community. Founders of Trans+ History Week, QueerAF have put together a workbook to help you explore trans history, it’s the history lesson we never had. 

Download QueerAF’s Trans+ History Week workbook. 

Catch our social media content  

We’re sharing lots more info on our social media channels this week, follow us so you don’t miss out! 

• Twitter/X
• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• TikTok

For more info and resources, you can check out our Trans Hub. 

A General Election is coming on 4 July 2024 – we have an opportunity to create meaningful change for the LGBTQ+ community.

Life is especially challenging for LGBTQ+ people right now, with anti-LGBTQ+ narratives gaining more traction in the press and politics, while hate crime rises. This is our moment to make our voices heard. By engaging in the election process, we can campaign for a brighter, more inclusive future for the LGBTQ+ community.  

Who are Prospective Parliamentary Candidates (PPCs)? These are your local candidates that have been chosen by a political party, or as an independent, to run for a seat in UK parliament and become an MP. 

Since we don’t yet know who will make up the next UK Government and Parliament, it is vital that we engage with all PPCs equally on the issues that matter to us. As a charity, Stonewall is politically impartial; we do not favour any political party or candidate. Instead, we believe in engaging with representatives of all mainstream parties.

We want to get the UK back on track for LGBTQ+ rights. These are our key priorities:

How to engage with your PPC

You have an opportunity to make a real impact, helping to ensure that the next UK Government actively supports the LGBTQ+ community when they come into power. Your voice matters, and you can use it to engage with the people who could be shaping new policies for the UK.

There are a few ways you can engage with PPCs - choose the option which works best for you! We recognise that having conversations about LGBTQ+ equality might be difficult for some, so please look after your wellbeing during this time and only engage with people if you feel comfortable.

1. Email them directly

You can reach out to PPCs directly via email. Simply use this tool to discover the candidates in your area and find their contact details. You can then write an email to them outlining your priorities and what you want to see from them.

You can also signpost PPCs to our Back on Track manifesto, which explores how the next UK Government can make progress for LGBTQ+ rights.

2. Quiz them when they come canvassing

During election season, PPCs or members of their team are likely to be out and about canvassing and knocking on doors to gain support. If they come knocking, this is the perfect opportunity to ask them what they plan to do to support the LGBTQ+ community.

You can use our list of questions below for inspiration!

3. Attend a local husting

A husting is a meeting where candidates for an election address potential voters. During a husting, candidates will present their policies, answer questions, and engage in debates with their opponents. Attending a husting means that you can hear directly from the candidates, compare their positions on various issues, and make informed decisions about whom to support in the election. You can find a local husting near you with a quick online search for your local area.

It is also a chance for you to put your questions to your PPCs. We’ve put together a list of questions below.

Questions to ask your local candidates

Based on our key priorities, we’ve put together some questions to ask your PPCs. These can be used over email, or in person. If you feel comfortable, add your own knowledge and experiences when having these conversations; it will help the candidate connect with you and the challenges the community is facing.

Ask your PPCs about LGBTQ+ safety

A top priority for us in ensuring that the next government focusses on creating more safety for LGBTQ+ people. We know that many LGBTQ+ people do not feel safe simply being themselves and expressing their identities in the current climate. If you have the chance to ask your PPCs just one question, we urge you to make it this:

1. Hate crimes against LGBTQ+ people are rising. If elected, how do you plan to ensure that the LGBTQ+ community feel safe going about their day-to-day lives?

If your PPC is engaged, you can dive deeper into some more specific LGBTQ+ issues. Here’s some additional questions you might want to pose:

1. Conversion therapy is still legal in the UK. Will you commit to a comprehensive ban on conversion practices if elected?
2. LGBTQ+ people have poorer mental health outcomes than cis and straight people. What would you do to improve mental health services for LGBTQ+ people?
3. LGBTQ+ people have poorer mental health outcomes than cis and straight people. What would you do to improve mental health services for LGBTQ+ people?
4. Trans adults are waiting an average of 4 years for treatment. How would you ensure that all trans people can access the healthcare they need?
5. Many LGBTQ+ people still face financial barriers to accessing IVF on the NHS. What will you do to make sure that every LGBTQ+ person has the chance to start a family?
6. I believe in LGBTQ-inclusive education – what will you do to ensure this is protected in schools?
7. The UK used to be rated number 1 for LGBTQ+ equality, we’re now rated 16th. What steps would you take to ensure that the UK once again stands as a global leader for LGBTQ+ equality?

If you get any interesting responses from your local candidates – we’d love to hear about them! Feel free to email us at campaigns@stonewall.org.uk.

Thank you for standing hand in hand with us this election season. Together, we can make sure that the UK is a place where LGBTQ+ people are supported to thrive and can live freely.

This summer, individuals and organisations will be writing to their MPs calling for action on for Gender Recognition Act reform.

David chairs the Wandsworth LGBTQ+ Forum which has built support for LGBT equality at local and national levels by building relationships with local MPs. Here, he shares their experience to help you make an impact on your local MP.  

1. Don’t be party political.

Here in Wandsworth, we have three MPs of different parties and have been able to build good relationships all of them, as well as with election candidates.

2. Find common ground.

Look for events that your MP is organising or supporting that relate to your work, and where you can find common interest. Hate crime is a focus for us, and so we have attended and supported events where our local MPs have spoken about tackling hate crime. This has helped build the relationship with them.

3. Be personal.

On behalf of the Wandsworth LGBTQ+ Forum, I wrote to our local MPs earlier this year asking for them to champion LGBT-inclusive Relationships and Sex Education. I used a template letter but personalised it – reminding MPs of the previous contact we’d had with them, sharing personal experiences of growing up under Section 28 and including some facts and statistics. We could then share this letter with other organisations and individuals to help them write their own personal letters.

4. It’s more than just sending an email or writing a letter.

It’s about building a relationship over time. We’ve been in contact with one of our local MPs for ten years about different issues around LGBT equality. Over my time as Chair, all of our local MPs have come to many events which we have run in the borough. Most recently, our weekly 50+ LGBT coffee morning and even joined in photo-calls at fundraising events. 

5. If you don’t get an answer, don’t stop, but don’t pester either.

Social media can be great, but it’s not always the best way to get an MP to respond. Whatever you do, don’t make personal attacks or insult your MP on social media. Arranging a meeting, inviting them to one of your events or picking up the phone, can be more productive. MPs get so many emails every day, instead of just asking for something, ask them what their priorities are and how you can help.

6. Support each other.

We’re part of the London LGBT+ Forums network, which exists to share information and offer support for other London-wide community forums. Among the organisations you work with, there may be ones who can provide advice on dealing with a ‘difficult’ local MP or have contacts which they can share with you.

7. Remember, MPs are people too.

Every MP is different. Some will read their own mail, others will have office staff. They will have different interests and communication styles, so take time to discover what works for them.

On this day 50 years ago, an uprising took place at the Stonewall Inn in New York City. 

As it was raided by the police in the early hours, three nights of unrest followed, with LGBT people, long frustrated by police brutality, finally fighting back. Lesbians and trans women of colour were some of the key people involved in the act of resistance, including Stormé DeLarverie, Sylvia Rivera and Marsha P. Johnson. This anniversary is a reminder of the power of standing together in defiance of those who seek to divide us.

The Stonewall uprising took place in the context of broader civil rights movements. The Revolutionary People's Constitutional Convention in 1970 was a key moment in which activists from Black Power, feminist and gay liberation movements came together, saw common cause and learned from each other.

The Gay Liberation Front was the main organisation that formed out of the uprising and these wider movements. The GLF first formed in the US and were part of the original discussions to create the first Pride, which took place on June 28 1970 in New York City, a year after the Stonewall riots - then called the Christopher Street Day Parade.

Some UK activists were involved in some of these key moments in the US movement, and they came back to Britain to form a British chapter of the Gay Liberation Front, meeting for the first time at the LSE library in October 1970, with the first UK Gay Pride Rally taking place a few years later on 1 July 1972, in London.

In the UK, sexual acts between men had been partially decriminalised in 1967, but there was a huge amount of persecution of gay and bi men afterwards. Campaigning at the time was mainly led by the Homosexual Law Reform Society.

The 1970s were characterised by radical grassroots and community-based activism and support. There were many splinter groups from the Gay Liberation Front: the Campaign for Homosexual Equality was a key driving force, and the focus of activism was often explicitly focused on directly challenging heteronormative, conservative norms of family and gender roles; other community-led initiatives coming out of the 1970s included Gay News(set up in 1972), Switchboard (1974), and Gay’s the Word bookshop (1979).

The AIDS crisis dominated the 1980s for the LGBT community, first coming to public attention in 1981 when the first person died of an AIDS-related illness. A year later, a man named Terry Higgins was among the first people known to die of an AIDS-related illness in the UK: the Terrence Higgins Trust was set up in his name.

The prevalence of AIDS was greater in the USA than the UK, but in both countries there was a real lack of political and service support for people living with HIV/AIDS, leading to a huge emphasis on community activism and support. Lesbians and bi women provided critical support to gay and bi men during this time, and Act Up was the key campaigning group focused on challenging the lack of political and health support for people living with HIV / AIDS.

The LGBT community was politically and socially stigmatised throughout the 1980s, creating the hostile political context that allowed Section 28 to be passed as law. This piece of legislation effectively prevented teachers from talking about same-sex relationships in schools, forcing teachers back into the closet, or out of their job, and scarring a generation of LGBT people.

Stonewall was created to fight this discrimination in the UK, 20 years after the uprising.

On 11 September 1988, at a meeting held in Sir Ian McKellen’s house in Limehouse, the basic aims were drawn up in a document dubbed the Second Limehouse Declaration. The first Limehouse Declaration, announcing the launch of the Social Democrat Party, had been signed in the house next door.

On 24 May 1989, the new group sent a press release to the LGBT press announcing the founding of the Stonewall Group.

Over the past 30 years we’ve made a big difference to the lives of LGBT people here and around the world. In the UK, the LGBT movement has won employment rights. Parenting rights. Partnership rights. An equal age of consent.

Fifty years after the uprising, there's lots for us to celebrate – but there’s also a lot more work that needs to be done. We won’t stop, until everyone can be accepted for who they are - without exception.

How you can help:

• There is still so much left to achieve, donate today to help us make our hopes for the future a reality
• Read more about Stonewall's history