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Stonewall welcomes Simon Blake OBE as new CEO

We are proud to announce Simon Blake OBE as our incoming Chief Executive. Simon, who will begin his new role in September, brings to Stonewall a wealth of leadership experience in the charity and social justice space. He is currently Chief Executive at Mental Health First Aid England, a role he has held since October 2018, where he has been instrumental in setting the organisation’s strategic vision to improve the mental health of the nation through training and awareness. Prior to this,…

Joint Statement on proposals to amend the Equality Act 2010

The Equality Act is world-class legislation that took almost a decade to develop, and has been working well for 14 years. Under the Act, trans people can legally access single-sex services based on their gender, and services can exclude trans people, whether or not they hold a Gender Recognition Certificate, if it is a proportionate thing to do to achieve a legitimate aim.We believe the thresholds that the Equality Act sets are a proportionate bar for services to address if they are to use…

Supportive Schools Campaign Statement on RSHE Guidance

Joint statement from Supportive Schools Campaign on RSHE GuidanceThe well-being of all children and young people, so that they can live happy, safe lives, is our priority. We believe that age-appropriate teaching on relationships, sex and health supports this and should form an essential part of our school curriculum. The majority of teachers agree: which is why schools are crying out for clear, inclusive guidance that empowers them to provide a safe and supportive learning environment for…

Joint Statement on NHS Constitution proposals

Everyone deserves timely access to holistic, high-quality healthcare and to be treated with dignity, privacy and respect throughout their treatment and care. This includes trans, non-binary and intersex people who already face significant barriers and inequality when accessing NHS care.The consultation closes on 25th June 2024, and will inform changes to the NHS Constitution that will be in place until 2035. We have concerns about some of the changes proposed, particularly those…

Stonewall statement on the Cass Review

What is important, above all, is that trans and gender-diverse children get the quality healthcare that they need and deserve. The Cass Review can play a vital role in achieving this aim, if its recommendations are implemented properly. Many recommendations could make a positive impact – such as expanding provision of healthcare by moving away from a single national service towards a series of regional centres, while recognising that there are many different treatment pathways that trans…

Stonewall appoints new Treasurer and Trustee

Stonewall continues to strengthen its Board of Trustees, with the appointment of a new Treasurer, Caroline Stockmann, and new Trustee Kushal Khandhar. This comes following Catherine (Cat) Dixon being appointed Chair and Jean Vianney Cordeiro and Ayla Holdom being appointed Vice Chairs, creating an opportunity to recruit for a new Treasurer following Jean Vianney’s four years in the role. These appointments bring additional financial and commercial expertise to the board. As Treasurer,…

Section 35 appeal: our response

We’re deeply disappointed that the Scottish Government will not appeal the Court of Session ruling on the UK Government’s unprecedented decision to use Section 35 to block the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill from Royal Assent. This Bill was one of the most debated in the Scottish Parliament’s history and was passed by a resounding majority of MSPs drawn from all major Scottish parties.It is important to remember that the Court judgment did not rule that there was anything wrong with…

Stonewall statement on Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) judicial review

We’re disappointed that the Court of Session in Scotland has found in favour of the UK Government’s unprecedented decision to use Section 35 to block the Gender Recognition Reform Bill from Royal Assent. This Bill was one of the most debated in the Scottish Parliament’s history and was passed by a resounding majority of MSPs drawn from all major Scottish parties. This unfortunately means more uncertainty for trans people in Scotland, who will now be waiting once again, to see whether they…

3 ways to engage your local candidates in the 2024 General Election

A General Election is coming on 4 July 2024 – we have an opportunity to create meaningful change for the LGBTQ+ community. Life is especially challenging for LGBTQ+ people right now, with anti-LGBTQ+ narratives gaining more traction in the press and politics, while hate crime rises. This is our moment to make our voices heard. By engaging in the election process, we can campaign for a brighter, more inclusive future for the LGBTQ+ community.   Who are Prospective Parliamentary…

Why do we need Trans+ History Week?

What is Trans+ History Week? Founded by QueerAF, Trans+ History Week (6 – 12 May 2024) is a week to learn and celebrate the rich and long history of trans, non-binary, gender diverse, and intersex people. It is a time to reflect and educate on trans history and identities. As the organisers say, “knowledge of our past is absolutely fundamental for our future liberation”.  At a time where anti-trans rhetoric is on the rise and hate crimes against trans people have risen by…