Recent developments in Parliament have seen the second reading of the 'Same Sex Marriage' Bill pass through the Commons successfully. I found it suitable therefore to discuss one of the largest supporters of such a movement. I am referring to the largest LGBT charity in not only the United Kingdom but in Europe, Stonewall.
Stonewall was formed in 1989 with some notable founders, including the famous actor Sir Ian McKellen and Michael Cashman. Stonewall itself is a pressure group that aims to lobby the government for laws to be passed that give equality and freedoms to the LGBT community in the UK.
One of Stonewall's most notable acheivements and one of its longest campaigns was based around lifting of a ban that allowed homosexual servicemen to serve in the armed forces, the RAF and the Royal Navy. At this time there was not the Human Rights Act and such vindication of the LGBT community was put under large scruitny by the European Court of Human Rights. It suceeded and the Labour government of 2000 lifted the ban. Since then the armed forces have pretty much unanimously agreed that momosexual soldiers serving in the army has had no impact on the successful operational prowess of the British Armed Forces which are considered by many to be world class.
Stonewall has no doubt supported the government's choice on February 5th 2013 but the bill still has to pass through scrutiny committees and the House of Lords as well as another vote in the Commons.
