Brody's Notes... Stonewall UK Announces New Deputy Chief Executive

Laura Doughty Photo Courtesy of Stonewall UK

By Brody Levesque (Washington DC) Jan 22 | Stonewall UK has promoted Laura Doughty to Deputy Chief Executive. She was previously Stonewall's Director of Fund-raising and Communications. Laura’s appointment reflects the recent growth of Stonewall and its ambition to further grow the charity’s work and impact.

Laura said: ‘This is a hugely exciting time to be Deputy Chief Executive of Stonewall. I look forward to working with the Stonewall team, the lesbian, gay and bisexual community and all our key stakeholders to ensure that we achieve equality in every aspect of our lives – at home, at school and at work.’

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 lesbians and gay men serving in the military, & securing legislation allowing same-sex couples to adopt. More recently Stonewall has helped secure civil partnerships and ensured the recent Equality Act protected lesbians and gay men in terms of goods and services.

Stonewall also works with a whole range of agencies to address the needs of lesbians, gay men and bisexuals in the wider community. The Diversity Champions programme offers advice and support to over 400 organisations including IBM, Barclays, Barnardos, DCLG and the Royal Navy.

Stonewall's Education for All campaign, launched in January 2005, helps tackle homophobia and homophobic bullying in schools and works with a wide coalition of groups.

More recently Stonewall has formed partnerships with organisations outside Parliament to ensure the rights and needs of lesbians, gay men and bisexuals are addressed in the wider community.

Stonewall has also raised public awareness in terms of civil partnership, through their Get Hitched guide, and on the changes to the employment regulations relating to sexual orientation through guides for both employers and employees.

In addition Stonewall promotes new research on issues such as  hate crime, lesbian health and homophobic bullying in schools.

Stonewall's offices in Scotland and Wales further their work across a range of activities and work alongside local projects to develop LGBT communities.

Stonewall receives no public funding and raises all its money itself in a range of ways including donations,  sponsorship, and fundraising events.

For further information please visit: http://www.stonewall.org.uk/