Stonewall Staff Visit Prime Minister to Mark Gay Pride in London

Photo: Prime Minister Gordon Brown with the staff of Stonewall and the charity's co-founder Sir Ian McKellen.

Stonewall staff, accompanied by the charity’s co-founder Sir Ian McKellen, visited British Prime Minister Gordon Brown for half an hour this morning.

A range of issues were discussed including the work that Stonewall does through its Education for All programme tackling homophobic bullying in Britain’s schools.

“We were delighted to have the opportunity to talk through forthcoming legislative proposals,” said Ben Summerskill, Stonewall chief executive.

“The Prime Minister also offered his full support to the work we’ve been doing in tackling homophobic bullying in Britain’s schools.

“He promised that the government wanted to do more in this area. He clearly had a really good understanding of the damage that bullying can do to young people and their life chances,” Mr. Summerskill added.

Ian McKellen commented: “For the Prime Minister to see a group of Stonewall staff on this particular day was a hugely welcome gesture.

“I was very pleased that Gordon Brown listened so closely to our concerns about what’s happening in Britain’s schools.”

Today is the first time that a British Prime Minister has engaged in the Pride Festival, apart from by sending a message of support.

The forthcoming Equality Act, European equality directives and issues of asylum were also raised during the meeting.

Stonewall’s recent School Report, research carried out with more than 1100 pupils in Britain’s secondary schools, found that two thirds were regularly victims of homophobic bullying.

Ninety eight per cent regularly heard insults such as ‘bender’, ‘queer’ and ‘dyke’ in their schools. The Prime Minister asked for a copy of the research.

Earlier this year, Sir Ian McKellen was appointed a Companion of Honour for ‘services to drama and equality.’