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Scottish Government sets out commitments on LGBTQ+ equality in Programme for Government

Colin Macfarlane, Director of Stonewall Scotland (he/him) said: ‘We welcome today’s commitment from the First Minister to introduce a bill to reform the Gender Recognition Act 2004 in the upcoming year. Trans people across Scotland have been waiting far too long for equality, and this vital change will simply make it easier for trans people to live their daily lives by having the right gender recorded on their birth certificate. These reforms are long-awaited, with the process having gone…

Stonewall announces new trustees

We’re so pleased to share that five new trustees have joined Stonewall’s board: Dunni Alao, Lou Downe, Gbolahan Faleye, Adam Lake and Dr Kyle Ring. Our trustees are responsible for overseeing all of our work, taking collective decisions at board meetings on matters from finances to strategic goals. It’s their role to ensure that Stonewall is accountable, complying with the law and carrying out work for the public benefit.Our new trustees bring skills across fundraising,…

Michele ‘Mitch’ Oliver appointed Vice-Chair of Stonewall

A year on from Sheldon Mills being appointed Chair of Stonewall’s board of trustees and Nancy Kelley starting as Chief Executive, Michele ‘Mitch’ Oliver has been appointed Vice-Chair of Stonewall. Mitch takes up the Vice-Chair role from Simon Blake, who has completed two full terms on the board. Mitch has been a Stonewall trustee since February 2019. She is Global Corporate Brand & Purpose Director for Mars, Incorporated. In this role Mitch leads the ‘Mars, Incorporated’ brand…

Stonewall statement on conversion therapy consultation

Nancy Kelley, CEO at Stonewall, said: ‘We welcome the commitment to introduce legislation to ban so-called ‘conversion therapy’. However, the news of a consultation is concerning and will be hard for our communities to hear. We don’t need a consultation to know that all practices that seek to convert, suppress, cure or change us are dangerous, abusive and must be banned. Lesbian, gay, bi, trans, intersex and ace communities have been waiting almost three years for the UK Government to follow…

Stonewall statement on the Queen's Speech

Nancy Kelley, CEO at Stonewall (she/her) said: ‘We welcome the news that a proposal will be put forward in the Queen’s Speech to introduce a Bill to ban so-called ‘conversion therapy’. Any practice that seeks to convert, cure, change or cancel a person’s sexual orientation and/or gender identity is dangerous and harmful and must be banned. The same goes for the promotion or advertisement of such practices and attempts to remove a person from the country for the purpose of subjecting them to…

Lesbian Visibility Week survey reveals impact of pandemic on LGBT+ women and non-binary people

New research finds 3 in 4 LGBT+ women and non-binary people (77 per cent) experiencing worse mental health due to the pandemic.Top concerns include being unable to see family, worries about health of family and friends, and decreased mental wellbeing.DIVA and Stonewall to uplift and celebrate lesbian community for Lesbian Visibility Week 2021.Results released today for Lesbian Visibility Week 2021 show the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on lesbian, bi, trans and queer women and…

Stonewall statement on Northern Ireland Assembly vote to ban conversion therapy

Nancy Kelley, CEO of Stonewall, (she/her) said: ‘We are delighted that Northern Ireland has become the first UK nation to vote in favour of banning conversion therapy. This fantastic result is the culmination of years of campaigning and the recent work of the Ban Conversion Therapy Northern Ireland coalition, which we’re proud to be part of. It was moving to hear such passionate speeches from across the political spectrum, and now the Minister for Communities must urgently bring forward…

Stonewall statement on Margaret Lynch

Nancy Kelley, CEO of Stonewall, and Colin Macfarlane, Director Stonewall Scotland and Northern Ireland, said: ‘We are appalled by the baseless and offensive accusations made by Alba parliamentary candidate Margaret Lynch on Saturday.  ‘In a speech made on Saturday (10 April), she accused Stonewall, LGBT Youth Scotland, and indirectly ILGA World, of campaigning to lower the age of consent to 10. Her words were then widely shared…

Stonewall statement: the need for government action on LGBT+ rights

Nancy Kelley, CEO at Stonewall (she/her) said: ‘It is upsetting and concerning that Jayne Ozanne, James Morton and Ellen Murray all felt they had to resign from their advisory posts in response to a lack of UK Government action to address conversion therapy. We stand in solidarity with them and are grateful for all the work they have done to hold the Government to account, work that we will all continue to do as we fight for LGBT+ equality.‘It is appalling that in 2021 our communities are still…

Stonewall statement on the 2021 Census

Nancy Kelley, Chief Executive, Stonewall (she/her) said: ‘The 2021 Census will be a historic moment for LGBT+ communities. For the first time, the Census includes two new voluntary questions on sexual orientation and trans status, as well as clear and inclusive guidance on how to answer the Census sex question. This will give us an accurate picture of the size and make-up of the LGBT+ population in Britain.'For far too long, our community has been a hidden population. Collecting this vital data…