Stonewall Scotland

Our policy and public affairs team work to advance and defend LGBTQ+ rights in Scotland. We work in partnership with all six national LGBTQ+ organisations to advocate for LGBTQ+ equality across the Scottish Parliament, the Scottish Government and Scottish civil society.  

Stonewall Scotland has been part of every major fight for LGBTQ+ rights in the Scottish Parliament, including: 

• The end of Section 28 (Section 2A) in 2000. 
• Abolishing sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination from sexual offences law in 2009. 
• The right for same-sex couples to adopt in 2009.   
• The introduction of hate crime law covering sexual orientation and transgender identity in 2009. 
• The right for same-sex couples to get married in 2014. 
• The pardon of men convicted of same-sex activity in 2019.  
• Enabling questions on sexual orientation and gender identity in future censuses in 2019. 
• Greater protections against sexual orientation and transgender identity related hate crime in 2021. 
• Reforming gender recognition in 2022.

We are proud of our involvement in these achievements, and also the work which saw Scotland become first country in the world to embed LGBT inclusive education across the school curriculum in 2021.  

We are currently supporting the Scottish Government on several pieces of work to promote, protect and realise the rights of every LGBTQ+ person in Scotland, including: 

• Ending conversion practices. 
• Improving equality and wellbeing for non-binary people. 
• Improving NHS gender identity services. 
• Developing a Human Rights Bill for Scotland.

Our workplace programmes team work with individuals and workplaces across the public, private, and third sector to create environments where all LGBTQ+ people can achieve their full potential.  

We deliver a variety of programmes, workshops, and events for LGBTQ+ people and allies to create a Scotland where all LGBTQ+ people are free to be themselves. Our work includes: 

• Stonewall’s Diversity Champions programme - the UK’s leading employers’ programme for ensuring all LGBTQ+ staff, customers, clients, and service-users are accepted without exception. 
• Workplace Inclusion Workshops - Stonewall’s inclusion workshops are short interactive sessions that will upskill you and your team in key areas of inclusion. 
• Empowerment Programmes – Our funded day-long programmes empower LGBTQ+ people and allies to develop as changemakers. Previous programmes have included our Future Leaders Programme, Bi Empowerment Programme, and Trans Allies Programme. All upcoming opportunities are listed on our events page.

LGBT in Scotland - Health

LGBT in Scotland - Work

LGBT in Scotland - Hate Crime

School Report Scotland