mi5 named employer of the year

FRIENDS
MAGAZINE
PUBLISHED FOR STONEWALL’S REGULAR DONORS
MI5 NAMED EMPLOYER
OF THE YEAR
We hear from staff on the changing workplace culture, and what
this success means for LGBT staff.
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE: GCHQ acknowledges historic mistreatment of LGBT
people, Stonewall’s landmark conference on equality for disabled people,
profiling our international partners, and much more.
SUMMER 2016
Our Doors Are Open.
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Likewise, our doors will always be open, for all who share our drive to be the best.
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FRIENDS | CONTENTS
PAGE 4
WELCOME
PAGE 6
ISLAM AND LGBT
PAGE 5
OUT FOR CHANGE
PAGE 7
SCHOOL ROLE MODEL VISITS
CONTENTS
FRIENDS
MAGAZINE
SUMMER 2016
PAGE 8 JUSTINE SMITHIES
PAGE 12 MI5: EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR
PAGE 15 GCHQ - WORKPLACE CONFERENCE
PAGE 10
PAGE 14 WEI: SOUTH WALES
PAGE 16 LACE UP. CHANGE SPORT.
INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS
PAGE 18 EQUALITY WALK 2016
PAGE 22 BI ROLE MODELS - PRIDE CALENDAR
PAGE 20 BEN SMITH - 401 CHALLENGE
PAGE 23 SUPPORTING STONEWALL
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Summer 2016 Friends magazine 3
FRIENDS | WELCOME
WELCOME
Stonewall will stand by your side so that all lesbian, gay, bi and trans people are accepted without exception.
We can’t achieve that alone, and it’s your vital
support that allows us to continue doing the
work we do. Together, we can ensure that
all LGBT people are able to be themselves,
wherever they are.
organisations has helped to create more
inclusive organisations. And we’re seeing
organisations make fantastic strides, such as
MI5, which was named Stonewall’s top employer
in our Workplace Equality Index earlier this year.
Since the last issue of Friends alone, your
support has allowed us to affect so much
positive change in the lives of LGBT people, their
friends, families and loved ones.
We were also delighted to welcome GCHQ as a
keynote speaker to our Workplace Conference,
where director Robert Hannigan talked about
the organisation’s historic mistreatment of LGBT
people, and its commitment to lesbian, gay, bi
and trans inclusion going forward.
Your support has enabled us to host over 65
diverse role model visits in schools in the last
six months. These enable young people to better
understand what it means to be LGBT and how
being your authentic self can help you achieve
great things.
It’s also allowed us to work with over 100 young
people; equipping them with the tools and
confidence to become activists and campaigners,
and to bring these skills back into their local
communities to ensure they are inclusive of all
lesbian, gay, bi and trans people.
Across sport, your support has meant we’ve
been able to continue working with hundreds
of fans, grassroots clubs and athletes to kick
homophobia, biphobia and transphobia out of
their games, whether on the pitch, in the terraces
or elsewhere. This was kicked off earlier on in
the year when Manchester United and Arsenal
exchanged giant Rainbow Laces at the start of a
game to promote inclusion in football.
At work, it’s meant that our continued efforts
with over 700 public, private and third sector
Stonewall is Britian’s leading LGBT
charity, working towards a world where
everyone is accepted without exception.
4 Friends magazine Summer 2016
With your support, we have also been able to
begin discussing the specific discrimination
that many LGBT people of faith experience.
Our multi-faith seminar earlier this year helped
demonstrate that we are stronger together, and
we will continue to support one another and
embrace our multiple identities.
As this work takes place across Britain, it’s
essential that we’re able to meet as many of our
supporters as possible.
Marching through Brighton with around
600 individuals from the local and nearby
communities for the Equality Walk was one
example of this, and this year’s Pride season is
another.
Stonewall is taking part in 22 Pride events in
2016, including UK Black Pride, Bradford Pride,
Sparkle, Liverpool Pride and Leicester Pride. We
also took part in the first ever Digital Pride.
We’ll be holding conferences in Leeds,
Edinburgh, Cardiff and London where we’ll be
talking about being equal at work and how to
create a diverse and inclusive environment for
young people in education.
More than ever, it’s essential that we are able to
continue these specific streams of work across
Britain, and understand the different experiences
and forms of prejudice faced throughout our
community.
That’s why I am delighted that, in the latest
edition of Friends magazine, we’re able to
introduce you to some of the faces behind this
work, who are sharing their stories to help make
life more diverse and inclusive for our whole
community.
On that note, I would like to extend huge thanks
to each and every one of you for your ongoing
support. We could not do this work without
you, whether you donate, fundraise for us,
volunteer with us, support us on social media or
attend Stonewall events. Or even whether you
run 401 marathons for us in 401 days, like the
spectacular Ben Smith, whose story you can read
inside.
Together, we will continue to go deeper into
communities, empower individuals, change
hearts and minds and transform institutions to
ensure that all lesbian, gay, bi and trans people
are accepted without exception.
Until next time,
RUTH
STONEWALL
STONEWALL CYMRU
STONEWALL SCOTLAND
Tower Building
11 York Road
London, SE1 7NX
Transport House
1 Cathedral Road
Cardiff, CF11 9SB
Mansfield Traquair Centre
15 Mansfield Place
Edinburgh, EH3 6BB
020 7593 1850
02920 237 744
0131 474 8019
FRIENDS | OUT FOR CHANGE: EQUALITY FOR LGBT DISABLED PEOPLE
OUT FOR CHANGE:
EQUALITY FOR LGBT DISABLED PEOPLE
LGBT communities are
wonderfully diverse. When
Ruth took up the role as Chief
Executive of Stonewall, she
made a commitment to take our
work even deeper into those
communities.
Stonewall’s mission is to create a world where
everyone, everywhere, is accepted without
exception. That’s why it’s so important that we
help to create the platforms necessary to make
sure everyone’s voice is heard and amplified.
For that reason, on a sunny day in mid-April, we
co-hosted an event to hear from members of the
LGBT disabled community.
Out for Change was a truly inspiring day, and one
that we were delighted to host together with
Regard, the LGBT disabled people’s organisation.
Founded in 1989, Regard is an organisation that
campaigns to raise awareness of LGBT issues
within the disability community and of disability
issues within the LGBT community. It represents
the interests of LGBT disabled people in areas
like social care, and works to combat social
isolation by opening up LGBT events and venues
to make them more accessible.
What happened?
Over 50 LGBT disabled people and allies came
on the day to talk about some of the key issues
that affect them, their hopes for the movement
and how best Stonewall, Regard and LGBT
disabled people can join together to work
towards full equality.
You can find out more about the work of
Regard by visiting: www.regard.org.uk
After a series of breakout sessions looking at
issues including tackling hate crime, improving
access to social care, the current barriers to
socialising on the LGBT ‘scene’ and the role of
volunteering and community support, the room
came together to share final thoughts and hear
from a panel of inspiring LGBT disabled people.
The event brought many prominent themes to
the fore, and highlighted the links between the
issues raised.
What’s next?
This milestone event is only the start of
Stonewall’s work alongside LGBT disabled
people. Stonewall is now looking at ways to
make its work more accessible, and we cannot
wait for all our future opportunities to work with
the LGBT disabled community.
TOM MORRISON, POLICY OFFICER
Tom works in our Campaigns, Policy and Research
team. He works closely with different LGBT
communities to identify issues and strengthen
Stonewall’s policy work, as well as monitoring
parliamentary activity and working alongside
parliamentarians and local politicians.
Summer 2016 Friends magazine 5
FRIENDS | DR MASUMA RAHIM: ISLAM AND LGBT
DR MASUMA RAHIM:
ISLAM AND LGBT
In February, Stonewall hosted a multi-faith seminar, featuring panellists
from a diverse range of faiths. It celebrated some of the great work being
done by faith groups and individuals to combat homophobia, biphobia and
transphobia within their communities and congregations.
We hear from one of the panellists, Dr Masuma Rahim, a clinical
psychologist who specialises in supporting young people who have come
out as LGBT.
I am a clinical psychologist, and I write primarily
in that capacity. But I write also, of course, as
a Muslim. It will come as no surprise to anyone
reading this that people who identify as LGBT
are much more likely to experience mental
health problems than the general population. The
difficulties are well documented.
Young LGBT people consistently report higher
rates of depression and substance use than their
peers, and up to one third will attempt suicide
at some point in their lifetime. Among older
LGBT people, social isolation and depression
are common. Unfortunately, many mental
health services have a reputation for being
heteronormative and sometimes homophobic,
with the result that too few LGBT people are
able to access help from mainstream healthcare
services when they need it.
Life as a queer person is, in short, not always
terribly easy, despite the great strides towards
equality which have been made over the past
forty years. In some parts of society, progress
is evident. In others, all that is evident is how
little progress has been made. But if the LGBT
experience is complex, the experience of being
LGBT and from a Muslim background can
be exceptionally difficult. Add in the stories
of immigration, of being a minority within a
minority, of cultures and of faith which are –
apparently – intrinsically homophobic, and it is
easy to see that the challenges are enormous.
And that’s before you even begin to think about
what it’s like being Muslim on the LGBT scene.
Small wonder then that queer Muslims often
live in fear of being outed, in terror of exile,
that shame, guilt and internalised homophobia
are common themes, and that the process of
navigating your identity can be turbulent. The
question, though, is how and where these
conflicts can be resolved. Even liberal Muslims
won’t necessarily welcome a child or a sibling
who doesn’t conform to their idea of the
ideal sexual or gender identity, and there’s no
guarantee that you’ll find sanctuary in places of
6 Friends magazine Summer 2016
worship. While some imams may be supportive,
there is often a reluctance to engage with
the topic properly, and all too often people
are advised to ‘pray the gay away’. It’s hardly
conducive to the process of accepting yourself.
Collectively, British Muslim communities – for
there is no one homogenous Muslim community
– have not done enough to support LGBT people.
For too long, we have swept these issues and
many others under the carpet in the hope that
they will eventually go away. That approach was
always doomed to fail. The difference is that
now we are saying it out loud. We failed. And
make no mistake about this – we have failed
magnificently.
There are support networks for LGBT Muslims
out there, like Imaan for example, and they
do incredibly valuable work, but they are not
necessarily able to provide the mental health
input that some people so desperately need.
And so, it is against this backdrop that I and
two colleagues, both Muslim psychologists,
are trying to do something different. We all
see LGBT Muslims in our clinical work and we
are, I hope, the tip of an enormous iceberg. An
iceberg of Muslim health professionals who
are accepting of all those who identify as LGBT
and who are trying to reduce the impact of
shame, stigma and internalised homophobia,
biphobia and transphobia. Together we are trying
to build a network of academics, theologians
and health professionals who can challenge
the dominant discourse: that to be Muslim is
to be heterosexual and cisgender and that any
variation from that is deviant.
These are not issues confined to any one ethnic
or sectarian group. The problem exists across
the board and the solution has to come from
people willing to cross those divides. To tackle
such ingrained notions of what it is to be Muslim
means many things. Not least, re-interpretation
of texts and a reconsideration of concepts
related to masculinity, femininity and patriarchy.
And we are under no illusions. This is not going
to be a short-term project. Most mosques and
Islamic centres have historically neglected the
pastoral care needs of their members across a
range of issues. Domestic violence, substance
use, sexual health and abortion continue to be
taboo subjects. We will have to start from the
beginning, by raising awareness of the existence
of LGBT Muslims, by considering the impact
of marginalisation and homophobia on mental
health and wellbeing, and by highlighting the
importance of meeting the needs – spiritual
and otherwise – of all Muslims, whatever their
identities.
Ultimately, we want to challenge the
discrimination that has been rife for so long.
But we also want to increase the confidence
communities have in supporting people who are
reconciling their faith with their gender identity
and sexual orientation. In truth, we don’t know
what this project will look like in three years, or
in five. We are very much at the beginning of the
journey, but we are building on the work which
has gone before us and which has created real
change in faith communities.
It’s not good enough to maintain the status quo
– now is the time for change. LGBT Muslims
exist and it’s time all Muslims had the courage
to defend their right to do so, and be part of
communities which welcome, accept and love
them as equals.
At Stonewall, we’re proud to collaborate with
many inspirational LGBT people of faith. Read
stories from eight of our faith role models on
our LGBT History Month page:
www.stonewall.org.uk/lgbthistorymonth
If you are LGBT and of faith, and you have a
story that you think will inspire and motivate
young people in schools, you could be perfect
for our School Role Models programme.
For more infomation, email:
[email protected]
FRIENDS | SCHOOL ROLE MODEL VISITS
SCHOOL ROLE MODEL VISITS
At Stonewall, we know how important visible role models can be for lesbian, gay, bi and trans young
people. That’s why we work with School Role Models: people from different backgrounds with different
jobs and life experiences, who visit schools to tell their story about growing up as an LGBT person. Here we
hear from Luke Dowding about his School Role Models visit to a school in London.
A considerable amount has changed since I
was in secondary school, and it wasn’t even
that long ago… although perhaps that’s the
denial speaking. Visiting speakers were a fairly
regular occurrence, usually from churches or
charity groups, but I could never have imagined a
spokesperson from the LGBT community coming
to speak to me and my fellow students; and if
they had, I doubt it would have been received
well.
Which is why the Stonewall Schools Role Model
programme is just so exciting, particularly now
that a voice is being given to those of faith
backgrounds who identify as LGBT. I can only
wonder what it might have been like for me, as I
wrestled with my faith and sexuality in my teen
years and early adulthood, if I had heard from an
out, LGBT Christian, who spoke positively both
about their faith and their sexuality.
Earlier this year, I was invited to do just that:
speak at an Academy in London about my
experiences of being gay and a Christian.
Although I have some experience in youth work
within a faith context, it had been quite a long
time since I’d stood up in front of 300 15-18 year
olds to deliver an assembly, let alone one so
personal. However, I felt incredibly prepared by
the Stonewall team, particularly by the training
day where we were guided through what to
expect, what questions to answer and how to
deliver our ‘story’.
As I spoke, it was obvious that some of
the students were uncomfortable with the
topic, the usual sniggering and attempts at
whispering behind cupped hands. However, I
was overwhelmed by the overall attentiveness
of the student body. For the most part they
sat respectively, listened and laughed at my
attempts at humour (extra points awarded there).
As I drew to a close, the floor was opened
to questions and instead of the expected
tumbleweed rolling past, I was bowled over by
the quantity and quality of the questions, all
respectfully and earnestly asked. The questions
ranged from ‘do you believe you were born
gay?’, to ‘did you ever consider atheism?’, to
‘how do you explain what the Bible says about
homosexuality?’ Some of these questions were
clearly easier to answer in a 10 minute Q&A
than others but I was deeply encouraged at the
obvious level of thought that had been put into
them.
As the assembly ended, an excited group of
teenagers came up to congratulate me on my
upcoming wedding and gathered around for a
group picture for the school’s media use. They
chatted, laughed and treated me with the same
respect I had experienced throughout. One Sixth
Former in particular approached me, thanked me
for speaking and shared that he was both gay
and a Christian and that he had been looking
for an inclusive Church to belong to; it’s these
sorts of interactions and the openness of schools
and their students that make this initiative so
vital and so encouraging for those of us who are
invited to speak.
To find out more about what it’s like to be a
Stonewall School Role Model, watch our video
Stonewall’s School Role Models on our YouTube
channel: www.youtube.com/stonewalluk
If you’re interested in becoming a School Role
Model, please contact
[email protected]
LUKE DOWDING, SCHOOL ROLE MODEL
Summer 2016 Friends magazine 7
FRIENDS | JUSTINE SMITHIES
JUSTINE’S
STORY
Justine Smithies is a Stonewall
supporter, and newly-trained
School Role Model, who recently
spoke at the Stonewall Scotland
Workplace Conference. Here
she tells her story of coming out
as a trans woman in small-town
Aberdeen.
From the earliest age that I can remember, I have
always felt there was something wrong. I could
never relate and socialise properly with people
of the gender in which my body developed
externally. As a consequence, I overcompensated
and tried coming across as the big, strong,
stereotypical male. I knew I couldn’t have spoken
to my parents and, if I had, I probably would have
ended up homeless.
By the age of 11, I knew I felt like a girl, but I
didn’t know there was a condition called gender
dysphoria. I felt that if I hid it long enough, it
might just go away.
At the age of 18, I got a job as a marine
electronics engineer and met the love of my life,
Julie, whom I later married. Life was great, and
we had three wonderful children: Samantha,
Cameron and Morgan. But still, in the back of
my head, I had that nagging voice telling me
that I was not being true to myself or others.
By 36, I couldn’t carry on with the lies. I had
discovered, with the help of the internet, that I
was transgender.
I had already heard about people coming out
online, and I was convinced that my wife would
call me a disgusting pervert, that I would become
homeless, and that I probably wouldn’t be
allowed to see my children.
Also, there would be no way that I could keep
my job. Fishermen in the north-east of Scotland
are a very close-knit, religious community and
wouldn’t tolerate me – or so I thought.
Even though I thought I knew what lay ahead,
one evening it got a little too much for me. I sat
Julie down, and told her who I really was. After
many weeks of staying up all night, floods of tears
and conversations like ‘Can we really get through
this?’, we both decided we still loved each other
and would work through things together, just as
we’d promised in our wedding vows.
8 Friends magazine Summer 2016
We told our children, who were absolutely
brilliant. They decided to call Julie ‘mum’ and
me ‘mummy’. We also informed their school just
in case of any instances of bullying because of
me being trans. Julie took me to a doctor, who
was brilliant, even though he admitted that he
didn’t understand. He booked the appointments
for me to see the psychiatrist, psychologist and
surgeons, and even read up on transgender
healthcare.
I started taking hormones and, luckily for me,
work was easy as I had to wear a boiler suit
most of time so I could keep things hidden from
my employer and colleagues, right up until 2011
when I changed my name legally. I had no choice
but to confess, which was an experience I was
not looking forward to. I had a meeting with the
Managing Director and once again blurted out
that I was transgender. He looked at me with
total surprise and then said: ‘What do we do
next? What does this mean, and how can we
help?’.
That response shocked me as I was ready to be
told to leave. Everything went perfectly. Even
the local fishermen were brilliant. I’m not saying
they understood straight away, but they were
supportive and I told them to ask questions if
they weren’t sure. I was accumulating more
friends than I ever had before.
In January 2015, I had facial feminisation
surgery, swiftly followed by genital
reconstruction surgery. Everything was going
brilliantly right up until the point when I found
out our son Cameron, just four days before his
16th birthday, had fallen from the cliffs at Slains
Castle in the village.
I immediately put my welfare on hold to be with
him in hospital for the one day before he passed
away, and right up until his funeral. The media
got hold of the story and also found out about
me, and it wasn’t long before we were contacted
by newspapers and the television. One thing we
did notice was a refusal of anyone in our village
to talk to reporters about us; it was like we were
one big family who stuck together.
My employer has been brilliant all the way
throughout my transition, and so has the
community in the north-east of Scotland.
Without their support and understanding, I
probably wouldn’t have made it this far. I work
on fishing boats where the men are supposed to
be big and burly – when in reality, and don’t tell
them I told you this – they won’t go to sea if their
Sky TV isn’t working on board and they can’t
watch Coronation Street.
I decided I wanted to try and help others in
similar situations, so I started to set up an
LGBTI group for people in Aberdeenshire. Also, I
wanted to help Stonewall Scotland by trying to
raise some money for them. Now, I won’t go on a
rollercoaster and I won’t jump off the top diving
board, so you can imagine the face my wife gave
me when I said I wanted to do a skydive! To my
surprise, I ended up raising £2,000, with most of
the sponsorship coming from the fishing vessel
owners, even after I told them openly what it
was for.
The world is changing and so are people’s
attitudes towards LGBTI people. I’m also proud
to stand up there and say that I am trans –
something that I would not have done a few years
ago. More and more people are standing up as
allies. They don’t always fully understand how
important this is and what a difference they make
just by taking the time to support and understand
people. Without them, I wouldn’t be here.
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FRIENDS | INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS
INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS
Sex with someone of the same sex is illegal in 75 countries, and
punishable by death in 10. Most governments deny trans people the
right to legally change their name and gender. And around the world,
LGBT people are more likely to be at risk of arrest, violence and
discrimination than they are to have their rights protected.
Together with our allies, Stonewall has made
enormous progress in achieving equality for
LGBT people in Britain. There’s still a lot to do
here, but we also recognise there are a lot of
opportunities for us to share our experiences
with, and support, LGBT communities in other
countries.
We know from our own experience that change
works best when it’s led by people on the
Jamaica Women’s Empowerment for
Change has worked with the Jamaican police to
train over 214 participants on the duty of police
to treat the LGBT population as equal citizens
before the law. Participants are shifting their
opinions of how to treat the LGBT community.
Cameroon The Cameroon National
Association for Family Welfare (CAMNAFAW)
provides specialised health services,
information and counselling to the LGBT
community. It has also trained staff in providing
non-discriminatory services for LGBT clients,
and held public sessions to address negative
attitudes among the community.
Colombia Santamaría Fundación documents
human rights violations against trans people
and provides legal support to hundreds of trans
women who have experienced discrimination
or violence. In 2015, they succeeded in getting
the Attorney General’s Office to establish a
committee that will investigate and prosecute
LGBT Human Rights violations.
10 Friends magazine Summer 2016
South Africa With support from
Action Aid South Africa, the Forum for the
Empowerment of Women (FEW) has built
the leadership skills of 450 lesbian and bi
activists in townships in Johannesburg. These
activists have been empowered to challenge
discrimination against LBT women in society
and push for justice for victims of violence.
FRIENDS | INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS
ground, so we place local activists at the front
and centre of all our international work.
We support them to develop strong, relevant
campaigns that bring about change in their
own countries, and we work closely with the
UK government, international NGOs and other
institutions to share knowledge and make sure
international LGBT human rights remain high on
the agenda.
In this edition of Friends magazine, we want
to tell you about what some of our partners
are doing to achieve equality around the world
You can find out more information about these
initiatives in our policy paper The Sustainable
Development Goals and LGBT Inclusion.
You can read this paper on our website at
www.stonewall.org.uk/sustainabledevelopment-goals
Russia The Russian LGBT Network is an
interregional, non-governmental human rights
organisation that promotes equal rights and
respect for human dignity, regardless of sexual
orientation and gender identity. They unite and
develop regional initiatives, advocacy groups
(at both national and international levels), and
provide social and legal services.
Thailand In partnership with Plan Thailand,
M Plus and Path 2 Health designed a three-year
programme to end bullying of LGBT students in
Thai schools. The programme works at multiple
levels simultaneously, by training students,
supporting ‘champion’ teachers, and consulting
with parents, community leaders and the
government.
At Stonewall, we are working with the UK
government, international charities and
businesses to make sure they directly support
projects like these around the world. We are
dedicated to sharing our experience with
activists in other countries, and developing
partnerships which will benefit LGBT people
in the UK too.
Your donations make all this important work
possible. So thank you!
CLAIRE HOUSE & KIT DOREY,
INTERNATIONAL POLICY OFFICERS
IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS,
STONEWALL HAS...
...trained more than 30 LGBT rights
activists from Eastern Europe to
campaign for change in their own
countries.
...hosted activists from more than 20
countries at our offices in London to
share learning and coordinate action.
...worked with the UK government
to develop its new approach
for supporting LGBT people in
international aid and diplomacy,
including by training officials to step
up as leaders for LGBT human rights
abroad.
...published our ground-breaking
Christian Role Models guide, telling
the stories of 20 LGBT Christians and
allies from six continents, which we
shared with LGBT and inclusive faith
organisations worldwide.
Cambodia Micro Rainbow International
(MRI) provides mentoring & start-up capital for
those members of the LGBTI community who
want to set up small businesses. For example,
Sreyran, a lesbian from Cambodia, received
$300 to start a business and learned important
business management skills. Sreyran’s new
activity has benefitted her economically and led
to greater social acceptance in the community.
...hosted a London conference
bringing together LGBTI rights
organisations from across Europe and
North America.
...stood alongside LGBT activists
in New York to ensure the United
Nations addresses anti-LGBT violence
and discrimination.
Summer 2016 Friends magazine 11
FRIENDS | MI5: EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR
‘The dramatic speed of change within MI5 is reflected
in our journey with Stonewall. It started with a meeting
in a cafe near Waterloo station. Less than ten years
later, we were at the award ceremony.’
12 Friends magazine Summer 2016
FRIENDS | MI5: EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR
MI5: EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR
Stonewall’s Workplace Equality Index is a powerful benchmarking tool that measures organisations’
commitment to creating inclusive environments for LGBT staff and communities. More than 400
organisations took part in our 2016 Index, the highest number of entries to date.
Since their first entry six years ago, MI5 have risen through the ranks and this year took the top position.
We heard from a member of staff at MI5 on the changing culture in the organisation, and what its success
means for LGBT staff.
There was an unusual buzz as Ruth Hunt stood
up to announce the winner of the Stonewall
Workplace Equality Index this year. News of the
winner had hit the airwaves that morning. Now
it was to be confirmed officially.
The buzz, however, was not only about who
had topped the Index. It was that there was
absolutely no way that anyone from the
traditionally discreet winner would possibly
turn up to receive the award.
Not so.
‘Here’s DG’ said Ruth.
Andrew Parker, Director General of the Security
Service MI5, strode to the rostrum to receive the
‘Oscar’ of LGBT workplace awards on behalf of
his Agency. In 2016, MI5 is number one.
It is an extraordinary achievement, but one that
reflects everything about MI5: our board, our
employees, our LGBT network, our mission.
It is more extraordinary when placed into
the context of the speed with which change
has occurred at MI5. For most of our history,
which started only in 1909, lesbian and gay
candidates were barred from joining the
Service. They could not receive the highest
levels of security clearance. Without that, they
could not serve in MI5. Given the damage done
in the 1930s & 1940s by the Cambridge Spies,
several of whom were gay or bisexual, perhaps
those doubts were justified in the sceptical
eyes of the men in Whitehall. The bar also
meant that should an employee of MI5 come
out as gay or lesbian, they were dismissed.
There are senior staff in MI5 today who
remember not only those dismissals, but also
their own sense of the injustice and ultimately
futility as honourable men and women, who
had served their country well, were required to
leave solely because of their sexual orientation.
In their eyes, MI5 was not reflecting the country
and people it was serving.
The bar remained absolute until 1991. Only in
2003 did a small number of lesbians and gay
men begin to meet regularly – and discreetly
of course (we are MI5 after all) – and the
foundations of our staff network were laid.
The dramatic speed of change within MI5
thereafter is reflected in our journey with
Stonewall. It started with a meeting in a cafe
near Waterloo station. Less than 10 years later,
we were at the award ceremony in Leadenhall
Market.
We entered the WEI. Reflect on that: MI5
entered the WEI.
In just six years we went from nowhere to
number one. We entered the Top 100 in 2012 at
number 62. We climbed to 26, then 25 and last
year to seven. That meant only one thing. We
would aim for number one.
What does our journey show about MI5? First,
it was led from the very top of the Service. Our
board committed to it and to the changes that
would be inevitable once we joined the WEI.
Secondly, being subject to scrutiny – albeit by
a campaigning charity – is not new to MI5. We
are subject to law and answerable to Ministers,
judges and public bodies for our actions.
Thirdly, we are ambitious in keeping our country
safe and for our colleagues in our daily work.
When we set ourselves to achieve something,
we achieve it. Coming top of the WEI reflects
our ambition, both for MI5 and as a powerful
signal to the wider community.
Our HR department and our (very small)
diversity team ‘got it’. Once the historic bar was
lifted and LGBT employees were welcomed,
changes to our policies and benefits followed.
Our diversity team have been steadfast and
effective advocates of change.
Our staff network, Dimensions, has blazed
a trail both within MI5 and for the other
intelligence agencies – MI6 and GCHQ.
Ours is a ‘can do’ approach. We mix social
engagement and professional networking
within MI5. Five years ago, we started annual
national conferences for LGBT staff from across
the agencies, inviting external speakers and
charting a route for developing our networks.
This format is now used by other diversity
networks in MI5. We instituted the internal
Stonewall leadership programme for LGBT staff,
again across the three intelligence agencies.
That programme has been adapted for our
women’s group and run by MI5 and Stonewall,
a first for both organisations. We have other
initiatives which we will be launching during
this year.
In short, we got Stonewall’s ‘three pillars’
right: Board-level engagement, HR input, and
an active network. Our success is recognised
as being a hugely motivating force for our
other networks – ‘if the LGBT network can do
it...’ is a phrase often heard and deployed by
our diversity team – and for colleagues in the
other agencies. ‘If MI5 can do it ... ‘ surely must
inspire other employers and workers in Britain
and across the globe.
What does MI5’s success mean for us as LGBT
staff? First, collectively, a quiet but undoubted
sense of pride. To see the rainbow flag flying
over Thames House on 19 January; to witness
the international impact as the news broke; to
hear that murmur at the Stonewall Awards - all
of this spoke of a vision accomplished, work
rewarded and confidence well placed. For us as
individuals, it is a visible sign of MI5’s change
about gay staff. Our workplace is secure for us.
As a colleague said to me recently, we bring
so many talents to our work, but we also just
happen to be gay.
Back to DG and his speech in the Aon Centre for
the launch of the WEI. He was – as someone
tweeted live – ‘a hoot’! He also made a telling
point, one which resonated particularly with his
audience then and is worth repeating now, as
it underpins everything that MI5 does. We are
a serious organisation. Our work – keeping our
country safe – is imperative. Throughout history
and at the current time, those who threaten
Britain’s national security ultimately hate our
values: of tolerance, liberty, the rule of law. And
we in MI5 – all of us – stand up to them.
Summer 2016 Friends magazine 13
FRIENDS | WEI: SOUTH WALES
WORKPLACE EQUALITY INDEX:
A PERSPECTIVE FROM SOUTH WALES
The Workplace Equality Index is
made up of organisations of many
different types and sizes. We hear
from Martyn David, chair of the
staff LGBT Network at Rhondda
Cynon Taf County Borough
Council in South Wales, which
ranked as one of the top 100
employers in this year’s Index.
Over the last two years Rhondda Cynon Taf
County Borough Council has risen to 78th
place in Stonewall’s Workplace Equality Index
for its continued committment to improving
the organsation for the 12,000 staff that work
there. I have worked for RCT since the age of 16
and I’ve been asked to share my experiences.
I came out at 15 years old; well, that’s the age
I came out to a person. I came out about nine
months earlier to my bathroom mirror - I was a
confused 14 year old holding onto a secret, and
I was looking at my reflection with tears in my
eyes. I wasn’t scared - I was annoyed - I didn’t
want to be different, not again. Throughout
nursery and primary school I was the quiet,
fat kid who liked arts and crafts. But when
I started secondary school I had a new start
with awesome new friends - I was just above
invisible socially and it was glorious. Then I
came out.
For a few months at least I was the only out
gay person in a school of 1000-odd people.
My coming out experience was generally very
positive and I can count using my fingers the
amount of homophobic incidents I experienced.
My family have always resonated a message
of love throughout my life and my friends go
above and beyond to be supportive. But there
were turbulent moments. I found my solace in
YouTubers like Chris Crocker and Gigi Gorgeous,
14 Friends magazine Summer 2016
and the Loah storyline on ‘As The World Turns’
(Luke Snyder was my first love) which is all
harmless, though some of the other things I
did were not. Instead of feeling like I could ask
the adults around me for advice, I turned to
strangers on chat rooms and forums, talking to
anyone who affirmed my feelings. That’s just
not good enough. We have a duty of care to the
next generation to give them what they need.
We have come so far in terms of equality, but
hatred, ignorance and prejudice all still exist.
I was once thrown out of a club for holding a
partner’s hand, and I’ve had a fake Facebook
profile made using my picture which was
covered in homophobic remarks. There is still
work to do.
I began to move from tolerating my sexuality to
accepting myself when I joined RCT council as
a Support Worker in my youth club. It’s the best
decision I’ve made so far. Despite its flaws, I
have a deep affection for my work and I have
never found anything but acceptance from my
various colleagues, team leaders, and others.
I’ve had some truly amazing experiences as part
of my role. I was the elected Youth Mayor of
RCT 2014/15, which was crazy to me – I’d never
won anything, I wasn’t popular, I didn’t look the
part, but there I was; giving awards out wearing
ceremonial chains and having my picture taken
with other young people across the county - it
was life-affirming. I was an openly gay 18 year
old elected by my peers to represent them. I
didn’t expect it but I became my own role model
due to the lack of visible ones around me.
Over the last four years I’ve spoken to over 900
young people and staff about homophobia. One
of the activities I ask them to do in my sessions
is to draw their own image of a stereotypical
gay man or woman – many of them raise an
eyebrow and stand on ceremony: ‘But gay
people just dress normal, they’re like everyone
else!’, which is truly heart-warming – but many
of them don’t. And there are teachers I speak to
who aren’t sure if ‘legally’ they can talk about
‘gay issues’. For all our progress there is still
work to be done.
In RCT we have ambitious plans. We are
working collaboratively with Stonewall and
other partners to complete the Education
Equality Index, and as part of this we are
embedding equality plans into our new
Wellbeing Strategy, creating identification and
severity tools for teaching staff, and planning
to pilot a peer-led equality programme in three
of our secondary schools. Our frontline youth
and school-based staff will receive Stonewall
training, as well as the strategic leads for
Education and Wellbeing.
I think it’s imperative that young people have
the role models that I didn’t. I’m working with
our Staff LGBT Network, and Allies Network, to
give LGBTQ issues more visibility through blogs,
school visits, resources and coffee mornings.
We need to let the community know that being
gay doesn’t mean you’re weak, it doesn’t mean
you can’t like sports, it doesn’t mean you can’t
be a teacher, a lawyer, an animal trainer, or
whatever else.
We have decided to call our equality network
Perthyn: the Welsh word for belonging, because
that is the message that we want to give to all of
those 14 year olds looking in their bathroom mirrors
– you are not alone and you do belong here.
FRIENDS | GCHQ - WORKPLACE CONFERENCE
GCHQ DIRECTOR ACKNOWLEDGES HISTORIC
MISTREATMENT OF LGBT PEOPLE
The director of GCHQ, Robert Hannigan, addressed the 800 attendees of the Stonewall Workplace
Conference in April, and acknowledged the organisation’s historic mistreatment of LGBT people. GCHQ,
the organisation responsible for providing intelligence on cybercrime and threats of terrorism, banned the
recruitment of gay people until the 1990s.
Our annual Workplace Conference brought
together professionals involved in delivering
workplace equality, diversity and inclusion to
share the latest innovative thinking.
Addressing Conference attendees, Hannigan
paid tribute to the late Alan Turing and a former
member of staff, Ian, who was dismissed in the
1960s. After GCHQ took the decision to light up
its iconic building in rainbow colours to celebrate
International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia
and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) in 2015, Ian wrote
to Hannigan and asked for him to apologise
for his mistreatment during his time with the
organisation. Hannigan said: ‘I am happy to do
so today and to say how sorry I am that he and
so many others were treated in this way, right
up until the 1990s, when the policy was rightly
changed.
‘The fact that it was common practice for
decades reflected the intolerance of the times
and the pressures of the cold war, but it does not
make it any less wrong and we should apologise
for it. Their suffering was our loss and it was the
nation’s loss too because we cannot know what
Ian and others who were dismissed would have
gone on to do and achieve. We did not learn our
lesson from Turing.’
Reflecting on GCHQ’s relationship with
Stonewall, Hannigan said: ‘Stonewall’s a
key partner in GCHQ’s journey to improving
diversity and inclusion in our workplace. I’m
proud of the progress we’ve made, but not
complacent about the work that we need to
do. Through our own commitment to diversity
and our work with Stonewall we will ensure
that GCHQ is made up of people from different
backgrounds and experience and sexualities
and intellects. It is through this mix that we get
the creativity and innovation that helps us to
keep Britain safe.’
You can see our exclusive video interview with
Robert Hannigan here on our YouTube channel:
www.youtube.com/stonewalluk. Read the full
speech on GCHQ’s website: www.gchq.gov.uk.
WORKPLACE CONFERENCE 2016
Other speakers at this year’s conference included
our CEO Ruth Hunt, our Chair Jan Gooding, Inga
Beale, CEO of Lloyd’s of London, broadcaster and
writer Vicky Beeching and EY’s Director of EMEIA
Capital Markets Victor Nieves.
Ruth Hunt said: ‘It’s so humbling to see so
many organisations represented at Stonewall
conferences like this, and involved in all of the
work that we do. While delegates here today
no doubt represent organisations with different
structures, goals and ideas, we are all united
in our commitment to lesbian, gay, bi and trans
equality.
‘Stonewall looks forward to getting deeper into
communities, tackling issues for LGBT people at
work that might not have had as much attention
in the past. For example, the experience of LGBT
staff of faith, or perhaps disabled lesbian, gay, bi
and trans people at work.
‘It’s vital that we continue to do so, and leave
no stone unturned, to ensure that every single
lesbian, gay, bi and trans person feels able to
bring their whole self to work and is accepted
without exception.’
At this year’s Conference, we launched the first
two, in a series of six, trans-specific workplace
guides, produced in collaboration with the
organisation trans*formation. You can find these
at www.stonewall.org.uk/workplace-resources
We also launched our new campaign video, LGBT
Voices, to highlight the experiences of LGBT people
of all ages. Watch the video on our YouTube
channel: www.youtube.com/stonewalluk.
Nicole Gray, featured in LGBT Voices.
Summer 2016 Friends magazine 15
FRIENDS | LACE UP. CHANGE SPORT.
LACE UP. CHANGE SPORT.
Our Rainbow Laces campaign
works for the acceptance of
all people on playing fields,
terraces and in stadiums around
the world. We can only rid sport
of homophobia, biphobia and
transphobia by standing together
with players, clubs and fans to
send a message that it has no
place in today’s game.
This February, Premiership heavyweights
Manchester United and Arsenal exchanged a
pair of super-sized Rainbow Laces before their
kick-off at Old Trafford. This historic moment
sent a message to fans and clubs across
the world that homophobia, biphobia and
transphobia in sport is unacceptable.
We’re thrilled that Manchester United and
Arsenal have pledged their support to the
Rainbow Laces campaign. By doing so, they
are stepping up as allies to LGBT people and
showing their commitment to making their
clubs inclusive and supportive for LGBT players,
supporters and members of staff. We hope that
other clubs and sports will follow their lead and
lace up to change sport.
‘Manchester United is proud to be playing a
central part in support of Stonewall’s Rainbow
Laces campaign. The club supports a number of
inclusion groups and initiatives to help educate
society on equality and this long-standing
commitment is something that we believe plays
a huge part in sport, which unites so many
people from different backgrounds.’
Richard Arnold, Manchester United Group
Managing Director
16 Friends magazine Summer 2016
‘We are proud to be supporting the Rainbow
Laces campaign again this year, because
discrimination has no part to play in our game
at all. Football is about people coming together
for a common purpose, to share emotions and
experiences. It should not be important who you
are or where you are from.’
Ruth Hunt shared the progress being made
through Rainbow Laces to change hearts and
minds across sport, as well as the role that nonLGBT players and colleagues can have. We are
excited to continue working with Team Pride to
make sure that the commitment to create and
promote an inclusive environment in all aspects
of sport is realised.
Arsène Wenger, Arsenal Manager.
Around a third of the UK population has heard
of the Rainbow Laces campaign. Now we want
to broaden our focus. We’ll be moving beyond
football, recruiting sports role models and allies
to take a stand, working with community clubs
and coaches, supporting schools, colleges and
universities to take part in the campaign, and
making an international impact.
In February we also took part in the first Team
Pride conference, kindly hosted by AON, looking
at LGBT inclusion and acceptance in sport. The
day brought together influential organisations,
decision makers in sports sponsorship,
professional clubs and grassroots organisers,
as well as LGBT sporting role models Casey
Stoney MBE, Keegan Hirst and Nicola Adams
MBE, to share their experiences of coming out
as professionals.
You can find out more about our Rainbow Laces
campaign on our website at:
www.stonewall.org.uk/sport
Keegan Hirst, Nicola Adams and Casey Stoney
at the Team Pride conference
Harmonize.
0208 686 2600
KEY W
EST
BIG PINE KEY & THE LOWER KEYS
KE
Y
LA
RG
O
Pirates and poets. Artists and musicians.
Early birds and night owls. Gay, straight
or somewhere in between. Down here
in Key West, we may all march to the
beat of a different drummer, but
we’re singing the same song.
fla-keys.com/gaykeywest
ISL
MARA
THO
N
AM
OR
AD
A
FRIENDS | STONEWALL EQUALITY WALK 2016
STONEWALL
EQUALITY WALK 2016
Our annual Equality Walk this year
saw over 600 people taking to the
streets of Brighton to celebrate
the LGBT community.
The event was co-hosted by Radio Reverb, Ruth
Hunt and school teacher Tamsin Bartlett, and
raised more than £30,000 in vital donations that
will support Stonewall’s work with schools and
young people.
18 Friends magazine Summer 2016
The Equality Walk is an important opportunity
to come together, be visible and celebrate the
LGBT community. However, it was also a time
to reflect on how much work there is still left
to do, coming days after a violent homophobic
attack on a same sex couple in Brighton.
Ruth Hunt said ‘We are standing by the side
of all lesbian, gay, bi and trans people who
have experienced discrimination, abuse or even
violence simply for being who they are. And
our work will continue until all lesbian, gay, bi
and trans people, in Britain and overseas, are
accepted without exception.’
The Equality Walk is just one way our incredible
supporters raise money for Stonewall. For ideas
on how you can get involved in fundraising, visit
www.stonewall.org.uk/fundraise
FRIENDS | STONEWALL EQUALITY WALK 2016
‘The Equality Walk was a huge success
– and for me it’s been inspirational to see
the positive impact Stonewall’s work with
young people in particular has had. Central
Lancaster High School is a proud supporter
of our LGBT students and we are inspired
by the support that the School Champions
programme gives us’
Tamsin Bartlett (left)
Teacher, Central Lancaster
High School
Enterprise Rent-A-Car
supported this year’s Equality
Walk in a number of ways: by
sorting out a van to transport
supplies, donating bottled water
for participants and signing up
a team to walk.
We hear from Russell Murphy, one of 35
Enterprise staff at the Walk this year:
‘We feel that it is important to support such
great charities with values that so closely
match those of our company. Our employees
enjoyed last year’s walk so much that this
was the first event on our calendar for
this year.
‘As a business, Enterprise Rent-A-Car is
committed to equality and diversity, and the
walk was a great way to get many of our
employees involved and show their support
for Stonewall’s work.’
Summer 2016 Friends magazine 19
FRIENDS | BEN SMITH AND THE 401 CHALLENGE
BEN SMITH
AND THE 401
CHALLENGE
How many marathons are too
many? For Ben Smith, 401 seems
about right. Ben is currently
running 401 marathons in 401
consecutive days to raise money
for Stonewall and Kidscape. He
told us why he wanted to raise
money for Stonewall.
My name is Ben. I’m 33 years old, gay and
enjoy doing a little running every now and
again. I am 100% happy with who I am. I have
an amazing partner and live life to the full.
Sadly, this hasn’t always been the case.
At school I was bullied for eight years; firstly
for being different to other kids and secondly
because I was gay. The physical and mental
bullying took its toll on me. At 18 years of age,
after suffering in silence for years, it became
too much. I decided to take my own life. This
wasn’t a cry for help, I knew exactly what I was
doing and it seemed the only way to stop what
was happening to me.
After my suicide attempt, things didn’t get
much better. I made a conscious decision that
if I wanted to lead a ‘normal life’ I had to be
‘normal’. I decided there and then to hide who I
truly was and play it straight.
At the age of 29, I experienced a TIA or mini
uncompleted stroke. It came on suddenly at
work. It didn’t hurt. I wasn’t scared. I was numb
to all feeling. What I hadn’t realised was that
one instance had unconsciously started a series
of events in my life that would lead me to who
I am today.
I started to take charge. My relationship ended
and I changed jobs. I spent the next year and a
half of my life making any excuse under the sun
not to have to exercise, so much so that a friend
of mine dragged me kicking and screaming to a
running club. Walking into the club on the first
day, all the emotions and self doubt I had felt
at school came rushing back to me. They’d hate
me. They’d laugh at me. I’d get left behind. It
couldn’t have been further from the truth. My
journey had begun.
Starting to run gave me an endless supply
of confidence in myself. My self esteem, my
performance at work and my relationships with
my family and friends changed for the better.
At 31, I had enough confidence and self esteem
to come out to my parents. I had it in my head
that they would freak out, disown me, be angry.
I pulled them into the living room one night and
told them that I was gay.
I had been conditioned into thinking that being
gay was a sin, a disgusting way of living and
that it was wrong on all levels. In my first year
at university I tried to take my own life again.
I was lost, I didn’t have meaning to my life, I
didn’t know who I was and had no aspiration to
be anything.
If you could write a text book reaction to this
then my parents had read it. My dad simply
asked ‘Are you happy?’ to which I answered
‘Yes’. ‘That’s all that matters then,’ he said,
continuing to read his paper. Mum started to
cry, gave me a big hug and said that she loved
me no matter what. I could literally feel the
stress flow right out of my body; I didn’t have
to pretend to be anything other than who I truly
was.
Throughout my 20s, I lived what I can only
describe as a numb existence. I played the
game, followed what others wanted me to do,
made decisions about my career based on what
others felt was right and even went as far as
getting myself a girlfriend.
Running became a huge part of my life. I
travelled all over the world running marathons,
growing in confidence and setting about
figuring out who I truly was, what I liked, who I
liked, what type of person I was and what made
me truly happy.
20 Friends magazine Summer 2016
Working hard with specialists, friends, family
and members of my team, I came up with the
401 Challenge. The objectives are simple:
raise £250,000 for Stonewall and Kidscape,
raise awareness of bullying in the UK, get as
many people involved as possible and run 401
marathons in 401 consecutive days. We have
built up a strong team of people that support
me on a daily basis from family members to
complete strangers.
We are finding that the 401 Challenge is
inspiring people to do things they never thought
possible, which is what running did for me. We
have raised over £45,000 for both charities and
this continues to increase daily. To date I have
run over 6,800 miles and this will continue on to
a grand total of 10,506.4 miles, the equivalent
distance between London and Sydney,
Australia. This project also visits schools up
and down the country, where I talk to students
about my experiences.
I am completely different to who I was four
years ago: 100% congruent, 100% happy
and at peace. I have a loving family, partner
and friends I adore, plus I am getting to do
something that truly inspires me and that I love.
Stonewall has done a lot for me, a lot I didn’t
even realise. They allow me the freedom to
love the person I want to love and be the
person I want to be. This is the simple but
most powerful and motivating reason why I am
raising money for Stonewall.
If you want to learn more, get involved, run
with Ben, or donate, visit the 401 Challenge
Facebook page, and the website at
www.the401challenge.co.uk
To find out about supporting with a corporate
sponsorship package, please email
[email protected]
Text BEN to 70660 to donate £5, (all terms
and conditions can be found on the 401
website) or visit the Virgin Money Giving
Page at http://bit.ly/The401Challenge
Picture by Matt Ratcliffe, courtesy of the Macclesfield Express.
FRIENDS | BI ROLE MODELS - PRIDE CALENDAR
BI ROLE MODELS
We know that bi people face some distinct challenges and frequently
feel unable to be themselves. This is often because of untrue beliefs
and stereotypes about bi people and their lives, and it can result in
exclusion, invisibility and biphobia.
We are hosting two free one-day programmes specifically for bi people to empower them to be role
models in their communities and workplaces. They’ll give attendees practical ways to create an
inclusive environment for everyone, and the opportunity to reflect on how they can create change in their
communities.
Michelle Booth, Stonewall’s Head of Projects and Programmes, said: ‘We’re so pleased we’re delivering
these specific bi role model sessions for people from across Britain. The experts in creating positive
change for bi people are bi people themselves. Not only will participants leave the sessions with a
network of bi role models, they will have skills to positively influence their communities and workplaces
so that other bi people can feel free to be themselves. Thank you to Stonewall Ambassador and Trustee
for Trust for London, Edward Lord, whose funding has helped to make this programme possible.’
For more information about the programmes
running this July and September, visit
www.stonewall.org.uk/birolemodels
PRIDE
CALENDAR
This summer Stonewall is going
to be at more Pride events across
Britain than ever before. Pride is a
fantastic opportunity to celebrate
the wonderful, diverse LGBT
community, and we can’t wait to
see you there.
This year we also want to celebrate those
people who are actively showing their support
and standing by the side of LGBT people. We
want to hear the stories of people who have
been #ByYourSide through the years. People
who have supported you, stood up for you and
been there for you, through good times and bad.
If you’ve got a story to tell, we hope you’ll share
it with us and take part in our #ByYourSide
Wall of Pride, which will be travelling to all
of the 22 Prides we’ll be at this summer. It’s
an opportunity to say a special thank you, and
to showcase those amazing people who have
stood up and supported us.
And this is just the beginning. Later in the
year we will be hosting a season of exciting
events to bring together LGBT people and
allies, celebrate our stories and show support
for our diverse communities. We hope you’ll
get involved. Watch this space for more
information!
We have a long way to go before all LGBT
people can be accepted without exception,
and we can’t do it without you. So join us this
summer, share your stories, take part in our
Wall of Pride, and celebrate the people who
have stood #ByYourSide.
22 Friends magazine Summer 2016
BIRMINGHAM PRIDE
28 May
NORWICH PRIDE
30 July
PORTSMOUTH PRIDE
18 June
NOTTINGHAMSHIRE
PRIDE
30 July
PRIDE IN LONDON
25 June
LIVERPOOL PRIDE
30 July
UK BLACK PRIDE
26 June BRIGHTON & HOVE
PRIDE
6 August
NORTH WALES PRIDE
2 July
LEEDS PRIDE
7 August
PRIDE EDINBURGH
2 July
PRIDE CYMRU - CARDIFF
13 August
SPARKLE TRANS PRIDE
9 July
PRIDE GLASGOW 20 August
BRISTOL PRIDE
9 July
MANCHESTER PRIDE
NORTHERN PRIDE NEWCASTLE
16 July
READING PRIDE
3 September
PRIDE IN HULL
16 July
LEICESTER PRIDE
3 September
TRANS PRIDE BRIGHTON
23 July
CUMBRIA PRIDE
17 September
27 - 29 August
FRIENDS | WHY I SUPPORT STONEWALL - LIFELONG FRIENDS
WHY I SUPPORT STONEWALL
Thirteen years ago my then girlfriend and I walked together in the
Equality Walk in Brighton. As we walked we lamented that marriage
equality would not be something we would see in our lifetime.
Today that same wonderful woman is my wife. My life and my happiness have been directly affected
by Stonewall’s work. Most recently and very directly, it is the work I do as a School Role Model that
has opened me up to a deeper journey of who I am. Meeting children in schools, speaking to them,
sharing my story, watching their faces and answering their questions awakens me to the continuing
journey I have in my own relationship with being gay.
I joked recently with a large audience of older students that when I was eighteen I never dreamt
I would be standing in front of 200 or so 18 year olds talking about being a lesbian. We were all
empowered by that laughter. The day I became involved with Stonewall was the day I found the
community for which I had searched. It also marked a profound deeper journey of self-acceptance.
Deena Gornick is a regular giver to Stonewall and a School Role Model.
YOU CAN BECOME A FRIEND AT
WWW.STONEWALL.ORG.UK/DONATE
LIFELONG
FRIENDS
Acceptance without
exception. It’s a bold
objective, and we’ve achieved
a lot. But our work is not
finished – not until everyone
feels free to be who they are,
wherever they are.
In April of this year, we celebrated the 10th anniversary of our civil partnership.
Having the ability to have a legally recognised relationship, with all the rights
and obligations that brings, was unthinkable when we got together in 2000.
That we were able to do so is due in large part to the tireless campaigning of
organisations like Stonewall.
More than a third of our income from
individuals comes from gifts in wills, so it’s a
hugely significant way of ensuring Stonewall
can be here, fighting for LGBT rights, for
years to come.
But Stonewall does more than campaigning. Marion has benefited hugely from the Stonewall Leadership
Programme and we have both been to conferences and seminars listening to people who needed
Stonewall and the LGBT community to provide the support and affirmation that every individual should
feel entitled to.
If you’ve decided to leave a gift in your will,
please tell us so that we can welcome you as
a Lifelong Friend of Stonewall. Our Lifelong
Friends receive a unique purple Stonewall
pin, bespoke communications about our work
and invitations to exclusive events.
If we are honest, we would like to live in a world where Stonewall wasn’t needed because society,
employers, the media, families, friends etc. had no interest in a person’s sexuality or gender.
Leaving a legacy gift is an important
decision, but it doesn’t have to be a difficult
process.
But we are not there yet. Until we are, we need organisations like Stonewall to campaign for our
community and support the individual. And that’s why Stonewall is in our wills.
Marion & Lorna Gibbs
For more information, please visit
www.stonewall.org.uk/legacies, or you
can call us on 020 7593 1876, or email
[email protected].
Summer 2016 Friends magazine 23
You
don’t have
to go
anywhere
extraordinary
to do something
Special
Fostering Teenagers
Are you someone special,
with room in your life
and your home?
If you are interested in fostering
older children, come along to our
next fostering information evening.
Fostering offers you a challenging
and rewarding career, with round the
clock support, and enhanced fees, so
you can make a lasting difference to
a local teenager’s life.
wandsworthfostering
fostering.wandsworth.gov.uk
fees and
allowances*
*Terms and conditions
apply.
AD.1087 A4 (1.15)
To find out more call (020) 8871 6666
Up to
£21,000 PA