(London, UK) – The gay rights lobby group Stonewall, held a Parliamentary reception yesterday to thank dozens of politicians from all the major political parties who were involved in securing new ‘goods and services’ protections for gay people which came into force at the end of last month. More than 50 MPs and peers attended the event, held in the Jubilee Room of Westminster Hall and sponsored by Lloyds TSB.
Stonewall staff and trustees acknowledged their work during the two-year long campaign to secure the new 2007 Sexual Orientation Regulations, which became law on 30 April.
Those present included ministers Alan Johnson, Peter Hain, Ruth Kelly, Ben Bradshaw, Meg Munn, Jim Fitzpatrick and Baroness Ashton.
MPs Angela Eagle and Chris Bryant, who worked tirelessly to secure the new regulations, were also present as were opposition frontbenchers Eleanor Laing, Nick Herbert, Charles Hendry, Baroness Barker and Lord Lester.
“These protections which will bring a huge improvement to the lives of gay people across Britain,” said environment minister Ben Bradshaw, who hosted the reception with Shadow Equality Minister Eleanor Laing MP.
“Thanks must go to Stonewall. It’s one of, if not the, best lobbying organisations in the country,” he added.
Eleanor Laing said: “These protections were got after a long, hard battle fought in all corners – I assure you – of the Palace of Westminster.
“This piece of legislation will make a difference to the lives of hundreds of thousands of people, thanks to Stonewall,” she said.
Ben Summerskill, the chief executive of Stonewall, described the event as an “historic moment” for all lesbian, gay and bisexual people.
“A constellation of parliamentarians and others helped secure these changes,” he said. “We’re enormously grateful to Lloyds TSB for their generosity in sponsoring this event”.
■ Stonewall’s fourth Equality Walk in Brighton on Sunday (May 6) has raised over £40,000 towards for the group’s work for gay equality.
Over 300 supporters assembled at the Brighton Pavilion for the 10km sponsored walk which was officially started by Councillor David Smith, Mayor of the City of Brighton and Hove, along with celebrities Amy Lamé, Coronation Street’s Antony Cotton and Mr Gay UK Mark Carter.
The route took walkers along the seafront and through Brighton’s gay village, and finished with a well earned drink at an exclusive post-walk party hosted at Legends.
The highest fundraiser, Beverley Milner Simonds, won a fabulous weekend for two in Paris courtesy of sponsor American Express and the highest fundraising team was the British Transport Police who raised over £1,200 and won two crates of Cobra beer. The prizes were presented by Sharon Pannett, Director of European Risk Operations at American Express.
“I’m thrilled to have the chance to support Stonewall on its Equality Walk,” commented actor Anthony Cotton. “They have achieved so much for gay equality but there remains so much more to do”.
