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Gay news: Martina Navratilova and Gareth Thomas were guest speakers
600 guests attended the gay rights dinner
Stonewall's Equality Dinner raises a record £366,000
Stonewall's annual Equality Dinner last week raised a record-breaking £366,000 for the organisation's campaigning work for lesbian and gay equality.
Almost 600 guests attended the event at London's Dorchester Hotel, where the night's special theme was homophobia in sport and the need for more openly gay sportspeople as role models.
Tennis legend Martina Navratilova spoke about her years of being one of the few openly lesbian women in sport, while rugby player Gareth Thomas offered the perspective of a sportsman who had just come out, and encouraged others to do the same.
Navratilova said: "When I first came out in 1981, it was pretty lonely out there. Coming out was not considered a wise business decision. I think the phrase I heard was 'career suicide'.
"I'm told I lost millions in sponsorship, but in my heart I know I gained things of much greater value - the opportunity to live my life with integrity and the knowledge that others might have come out because of my example.
"We need organisations like Stonewall. And they need your support. It's incredible what they've achieved.
Thomas said: "I'm honoured to be speaking for such an amazing charity. My parents are here tonight and it's the first time I've asked them to support me publicly. They were very excited about the event and I thank them for all their support.
"Only six months ago I didn't believe I had the strength to be openly gay. Now I have. We only have one life and I need to live it. All my achievements on the rugby field fade into insignificance compared to coming out."
The event was hosted by Amy Lame, accompanied by celebrity auctioneer Christopher Biggins and DJ Jodie Harsh. Guests included Sarah Waters, Sir Ian McKellen and MPs Harriet Harman and Nick Herbert.
The auctioned lots included meet and greet days with Kevin Spacey, Sue Perkins, Christopher Biggins and Antony Cotton, a dinner cooked by Clarissa Dickson Wright, a Maggi Hambling painting and two Wimbledon centre court tickets accompanied by Martina Navratilova.
Laura Doughty, Stonewall's deputy chief executive, said: "Every penny raised tonight will go back into Stonewall's essential campaigning work towards equality. Whoever wins the keys to No 10 on 6 May will be lobbied by Stonewall, as we have done for 21 years, to ensure that lesbian, gay and bisexual equality remains a firm priority on the political agenda."
