Administrative/Biographical History

Stonewall was founded in 1989 by a small group of women and men who had been active in the struggle against Section 28 of the Local Government Act. Section 28 was an offensive piece of legislation designed to prevent the so-called 'promotion' of homosexuality in schools; as well as stigmatising lesbian, gay and bisexual people it also galvanised the LGBTQ+ community.

The aim from the outset was to create a professional lobbying group that would prevent such attacks on LGBTQ+ people from ever occurring again. Stonewall has subsequently put the case for equality on the mainstream political agenda by winning support within all the main political parties and now has offices in England, Scotland and Wales.

Stonewall is renowned for its campaigning and lobbying. Some major successes include helping achieve the equalisation of the age of consent, lifting the ban on LGBTQ+ people serving in the military, securing legislation allowing same-sex couples to adopt and the repeal of Section 28. More recently Stonewall has helped secure civil partnerships and then equal marriage and ensured the recent Equality Act protected LGBTQ+ people in terms of goods and services.

Scope and Content

Papers of Stonewall, including:

• posters, postcards, flyers, newsletters and other ephemera produced by Stonewall for its various campaigns, 1989-2014.
• press cuttings regarding Stonewall's campaigns and activities, 2010-2013.
• photographs of Stonewall campaigns, activities, personalities and events, 1988-2014.
• programmes for Stonewall Equality Shows and dinners, 1993-2013.
• DVDs and audio cassettes of films produced by Stonewall and of appearances by Stonewall in the media, 1990-2014.

Quantity

35 boxes.