Stonewall hosts packed event and panel session – Proud Foundations - at House of Commons

Last night (Wednesday, 25 February), Stonewall hosted a packed event and panel session – Proud Foundations - at the House of Commons to mark the end of LGBTQ+ History Month. 

The event marked a milestone moment for the LGBTQ+ charity who are firmly back at the centre of the LGBTQ+ advocacy agenda, following a re-brand and a refreshed strategy launched at Pride in 2026. 

The evening brought together parliamentarians, civil society and business leaders and comes less than a week after a historic legislative success was achieved through Stonewall's Hold My Hand campaign which sought to make LGBTQ+ hate crime an aggravated offence.  

The panel saw a Stonewall Founder, Lord Michael Cashman; LGBTQ+ activist and parliamentarian Angela Eagle, Stonewall Chair, Ayla Holdom and Chair of the Ban Conversion Practices Coalition, Saba Ali, all share their experiences on how successful advocacy and change making is based on conversation, dialogue and coalition. 

Simon Blake, Stonewall CEO, said: “We are living in turbulent times, and we can no longer assume progress is inevitable. Progress takes continual work, and it requires winning hearts and mind - it is an ongoing effort achieved through conversation, dialogue and coalition. Getting hate crime equalised is a major step but it comes at a time of worry and fear, we must speak not only to the community but outside the community.”  

Olivia Bailey, Equalities Minister, added: “LGBTQ+ History Month is about recognising the organisations and individuals who have been trailblazers for our community. But it’s also about the everyday LGBTQ+ people who have had the courage to link hands in the street. Because our history is a history of the courage and the persistence of individuals and it is our collective strength that has enabled us to change this country for the better. 

"LGBTQ+ History Month is not just about looking back. It's also about asking what comes next. We are committed to bringing forward a trans inclusive ban on conversion practises as soon as possible. They are rooted in the false and harmful idea that LGBTQ+ identities are something to be corrected for. A raise and we will act.

"Stonewall's work reminds us that progress is never simply about passing a law and moving on. It's about implementation. It's about culture change. It's about ensuring that our young people, an employee in a workplace, a patient in the clinic or a veteran seeking recognition, all experience dignity and freedom to be themselves.

"Progress is never linear. Many of you in this room know how exhausting it can feel to defend gains that we thought was secure. But our movement has always acquired resilience. It has always drawn strength from solidarity.”