Stonewall's 2008 Equality Dinner raises £320,000
Sir Ian McKellen gives keynote speech at fundraising gala 'Tea with Tony' fetches £20,000
Stonewall's tenth star-studded Equality Dinner saw actors rub shoulders with ministers at the Dorchester Hotel in London last night. The event, sponsored by UBS for the third year, raised £320,000 for Stonewall's campaigning work.
The buzz was all around Stonewall's landmark survey, Serves You Right, published earlier this week, which found that lesbian and gay people still fear widespread discrimination. It prompted heated discussions from politicians of all parties - it revealed that three in five lesbian and gay people still think they'd face barriers if they wanted to be a parliamentary candidate for the Labour Party, and 90 per cent would expect to face discrimination if they wanted to stand for the Conservatives.
Sir Ian McKellen, a co-founder of Stonewall, gave a rousing keynote speech about the charity's 'tireless work for equality', paying tribute to Stonewall's 'fantastic team'. He recalled: 'We were part of a historic initiative, that little group in which gay men and women took things into their own hands.' He shared with the 540 guests that he had visited Tony Blair on behalf of Stonewall three months before his election as Prime Minister. 'I reeled off Stonewall's demands, and he nodded, wrote them down and put a tick by them all. Then he said we will do all that.'
The dinner was hosted by Amy Lamé. Guests included authors Sarah Waters, Val McDermid and Stella Duffy, Paul Gambaccini, prospective London Mayoral candidate Brian Paddick and artist Maggi Hambling as well as ministers, MPs and peers.
Ben Summerskill, Stonewall Chief Executive, said: 'Stonewall's Equality Dinner is one of the most important events in our fundraising calendar because it raises so much vital core funding. I'd like to thank all our supporters for making this year's event another success.'
Auctioned at the Dinner were a range of items including art by Kobi Israel, the award-winning photographer, a civil partnership reception and dinner at Cliveden, one of the world's finest hotels, and dinner with Ian McKellen himself, hosted by Jamie Oliver. The opportunity to have tea with Tony Blair secured a bid of £20,000. All funds raised will go towards Stonewall campaigns such as Education for All, tackling homophobic bullying from Britain's schools.
ends
Notes
1. Stonewall is the gay equality organisation founded in 1989. www.stonewall.org.uk.
2. To order a hard copy of the Serves You Right report, please contact gary.nunn@stonewall.org.uk
3. Stonewall's next fundraising event is the Brighton Equality Walk, taking place on Bank Holiday Sunday 4th May 2008
back to top