Stonewall history

A central role in delivering change since 1989 

Over the past 35 years, Stonewall has primarily focused its activity in two key domains - influencing legislation and policy, and creating change through research, programming and leadership development.  

Stonewall has played a very significant and important role in changing the law to improve the lives of LGBTQ+ people. This includes: 

• The repeal of Section 28: We were founded in direct response to Section 28, the homophobic legislation that prevented young people learning about homosexuality in schools. It took twelve years in Scotland and 14 years in England and Wales to overturn this law.
• Equalising the age of consent: The Sexual Offences Amendment Act (2001) lowered the age of consent for gay and bi men to 16, aligning the age of consent with heterosexuals.
• Lifting the ban on military service: Until 2000, LGBTQ+ people were banned from the British military, often dismissed or stripped of medals. Stonewall campaigned to end this discrimination, leading to the ban’s repeal in 2000. In 2025, a compensation framework was finally agreed for those affected.
• The right for LGBTQ+ couples to adopt: The Adoption and Children Act came into effect in 2002 and allowed unmarried couples, including LGBTQ+ couples, to apply for joint adoption.
• Marriage equality: The Marriage (Same-sex Couples) Act 2013 made history by legalising same-sex marriage in England and Wales. Scotland joined the movement in 2014, but Northern Ireland didn’t achieve marriage equality until 2020. These changes were landmark victories for LGBTQ+ rights, and they represented more than just the right to marry - it was about recognition, dignity, and equality. 

These have been milestone victories, but there is still more to do – we won’t rest until we live in a society which is free from discrimination, prejudice and inequality for LGBTQ+ people. 

‘Hope will never be silent’ - Harvey Milk

Timeline of Stonewall history and cultural milestones  

But these successes didn’t happen overnight. Each victory was the result of years of dedication, campaigning and pivotal moments that shaped the course of LGBTQ+ history in the UK. From early legal battles to landmark policy changes, creating a legacy of progress that continues today. Below is a timeline highlighting some of the key moments that paved the way for the change we see now. 

1980s 

• 1988: Section 28 becomes law, banning the "promotion" of homosexuality in schools
• 1988: At a meeting in Sir Ian McKellen’s house in Limehouse, Stonewall’s basic aims were drawn up, setting the foundation for what became the Stonewall Group
• 1989: Stonewall was launched and announced itself to the mainstream press. That same year, The Iris Trust was established to raise funds for research and to support Stonewall’s work. Its first fundraising event, a performance of Bent at the Adelphi Theatre starring Sir Ian McKellen and Lord Michael Cashman, raised £25,000 and funded Stonewall’s first office in London

1990s 

• 1994: Stonewall helped secure the reduction of the age of consent for gay men from 21 to 18
• 1996: Stonewall launched its first major advertising campaign challenging anti-gay prejudice
• 1999: The ban on lesbians and gay men serving in the armed forces was overturned at the European Court of Human Rights following Stonewall’s support

 2000s  

• 2000: The ban on LGB people in the military was formally lifted in the UK
• 2000: Section 28 was repealed in Scotland
• 2001: The age of consent was equalised, lowering it for gay and bi men to 16, aligning the age of consent with heterosexual people
• 2003: Section 28 was repealed in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland
• 2003: Stonewall gets charitable status
• 2003: Sexual orientation recognised as an aggravating factor in sentencing under the Criminal Justice Act 2003
• 2004: Civil Partnership Act passed, providing same-sex couples with legal recognition
• 2004: The Gender Recognition Act (GRA) passes into law giving trans people a route to legally change their gender, through applying for a Gender Recognition certificate (GRC)
• 2007: Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations made it illegal to treat someone unfairly because of their sexual orientation 

2010s  

• 2010: The landmark Equality Act becomes law, protecting groups with protected characteristics from discrimination and harassment, including those with the protected characteristic of gender reassignment
• 2013: Same-sex marriage legalised in England and Wales
• 2014: Same-sex marriage legalised in Scotland
• 2014: Stonewall launched its “No Bystanders” campaign against everyday homophobia, biphobia and discrimination
• 2015: Stonewall broadened its remit to cover the whole LGBT community, officially becoming trans inclusive  
• 2018: Stonewall published the LGBT in Britain report series (health, work, schools, faith, trans lives), providing major research evidence on LGBTQ+ discrimination and inequality
• 2019: Government Relationship and Sex Education (RHSE) Consultation   

2020s  

• 2023: Gender Recognition Reform Bill (Scotland) passed
• 2023: UK Government uses Section 35 to block Scotland’s Gender Recognition Reform Bill receiving royal Assent
• 2025: LGBTQ Veterans begin to receive compensation from the UK Government. Stonewall continues to campaign for their justice.
• 2025: The UK Supreme Court  judgment on 16 April 2025 ruled the legal definition of a ‘woman’ for the purposes of the Equality Act 2010 is based on biological sex