Baroness Featherstone Discusses Her Fight for Marriage Equality

Yesterday, at the London LGBTQ+ Community Centre, guests were invited to hear from Baroness Featherstone, former Liberal Democrat MP for Hornsey and Wood Green, about her time in the 2010-2015 Coalition. Serving as the Under Secretary of State of Equalities, Baroness Featherstone recalled how – with no Liberal Democrats being able to remember how to be ministers – they were given advice by Michael Heseltine and Lord Adonis: pick one or two things you wanted to achieve before you leave government and fight for them.

Walking back to parliament, Baroness Featherstone decided she wanted to bring same-sex marriage to England and Wales, a task she fought for in private and public to bring to the floor of the House of Commons. Recounting her experiences and shining a light on how she had to build coalitions of her own (which Featherstone describes as a mix of a "gay mafia, and an ally mafia") inside her department, in parliament, and in the public, it was a privilege to gain this insight into the process that brought equal marriage to millions.

However, Baroness Featherstone doesn't want all of the credit. "I stood, and stand, on the shoulders of giants because it was the gay community who fought for years and who suffered the discrimination and hurt." Reflecting on the abuse she received during the consultation period, she drew a parallel with what we are seeing today with the treatment of the trans community – almost the same fear-mongering, word for word, as part of an effort to strip not only trans rights but LGBT rights in the long term.

The London LGBTQ+ Community Centre hosts regular events, and you can find out more on their website.