Stonewall Awards boost homophobia battle

By Marc Shoffman • November 7, 2006 - 0:00

Sir Ian McKellen and Ben Summerskill present the awards

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Stonewall's inaugural awards last week helped the charity raise£25,000 which will now go towards their Education for All programme aimed at combating homophobia in schools.

Sponsored by Barclays, the awards at the Royal Academy of Arts, celebrated the positive contributions made by individuals and organisations, both gay and straight, to the lives of gay people in Britain.

Alan Wardle, Stonewall's Director of Public and Parliamentary Affairs told PinkNews.co.uk that the charity were very pleased with the evening.

"We were celebrating what people have done for lesbian and gay equality. The sponsorship from Barclays made sure every pound went towards our campaigns."

Stonewall was recently given a government tender to produce packages on combating homophobic bullying in schools across the UK, Mr Wardle said these donations will be a big help.

The awards were hosted by gay actor Sir Ian McKellen, one of Stonewall's founders.

Winners included Sheri Dobrowski, mother of murdered gay barman Jody, for Hero of the Year, and the Albert Kennedy Trust picked up Community Group of the Year.

Journalist of the Year went to the Mail on Sunday's Jonathan Oliver, while PinkNews.co.uk picked up Publication of the Year.

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