| Revision as of 13:43, 16 July 2008 editWMMartin (talk | contribs)1,340 edits Please would someone correct this if I've got it wrong: I couldn't find his name in the graduation lists, but my eyes may have glazed over← Previous edit | Revision as of 11:00, 30 July 2008 edit undo80.229.191.215 (talk)No edit summaryNext edit → | ||
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| '''Ben Jeffrey Peter Summerskill''' (born ] ]) is the Chief Executive of the ]-based Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual equality organisation ], now the largest gay equality body in Europe. He has a ] twin sister, Clare, who is a performer . | '''Ben Jeffrey Peter Summerskill''' (born ] ]) is the Chief Executive of the ]-based Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual equality organisation ], now the largest gay equality body in Europe. He has a ] twin sister, Clare, who is a performer . | ||
| Educated at Cobden Road Infants School. Amherst County Primary School, ] and ], |
Educated at Cobden Road Infants School. Amherst County Primary School, ] and ], where he was an Exhibitioner but which he left after two years, he first went into the restaurant trade and was Operations Director from 1987 to 1990 with Kennedy Brookes, a publicly-quoted hospitality company. Becoming a journalist in 1990, he rose to the position of Assistant Editor of '']'' newspaper which he joined in 2000 after having worked for the '']'', the London '']'' and other magazines. | ||
| Summerskill was a ] councillor for the Westbourne Ward of ] from 1994 to 1998. | Summerskill was a ] councillor for the Westbourne Ward of ] from 1994 to 1998. | ||
| He succeeded former Director ] to the position of Chief Executive of Stonewall in early ], expanding its work from parliamentary lobbying into other fields including workplace equality and campaigning against homophobia in schools. He led campaigns for repeal of ] of the Local Government Act, the introduction of Civil Partnership for lesbian and gay people in the UK and the introduction of 2007 protections against discrimination in the provision of "goods and services", covering areas from healthcare and housing to hotels and holidays. He is also remarked for restoring Stonewall to financial good health after a number of precarious years. | He succeeded former Director ] to the position of Chief Executive of Stonewall in early ], expanding its work from parliamentary lobbying into other fields including workplace equality and campaigning against homophobia in schools. He led campaigns for repeal of ] of the Local Government Act, the introduction of Civil Partnership for lesbian and gay people in the UK and the introduction of 2007 protections against discrimination in the provision of "goods and services", covering areas from healthcare and housing to hotels and holidays. He also led a successful parliamentary campaign in 2007-2008 for introduction of a criminal offence of incitement to homophobic hatred. He is also remarked for restoring Stonewall to financial good health after a number of precarious years. | ||
| Under his direction Stonewall's Diversity Champions programme, promoting good practice among major UK employers, has grown from 35 to |
Under his direction Stonewall's Diversity Champions programme, promoting good practice among major UK employers, has grown from 35 to 400 members, employing 4.2 million people between them. Stonewall's new Education for All programme, launched in 2005, is supported by 70 major teaching and children's organisations. | ||
| In 2006, Summerskill was appointed a Commissioner on the UK's new ]. He had for three years been a member of a Steering Group advising the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on establishing the Commission, which has statutory powers for the first time to promote equality for lesbian and gay people |
In 2006, Summerskill was appointed a Commissioner on the UK's new ]. He had for three years been a member of a Steering Group advising the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on establishing the Commission, which has statutory powers for the first time to promote equality for lesbian and gay people. | ||
| His grandmother (Baroness) ] and his aunt (Dr) ] were both ] ] and government ministers. Edith Summerskill, a former Chairman of the UK Labour Party, was an early advocate of Britain's free National Health Service. Shirley Summerskill helped introduce the UK's ], as a Home Office (Interior) minister. | His grandmother (Baroness) ] and his aunt (Dr) ] were both ] ] and government ministers. Edith Summerskill, a former Chairman of the UK Labour Party, was an early advocate of Britain's free National Health Service. Shirley Summerskill helped introduce the UK's ], as a Home Office (Interior) minister. | ||
Revision as of 11:00, 30 July 2008
Ben Jeffrey Peter Summerskill (born 6 October 1961) is the Chief Executive of the UK-based Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual equality organisation Stonewall, now the largest gay equality body in Europe. He has a lesbian twin sister, Clare, who is a performer .
Educated at Cobden Road Infants School. Amherst County Primary School, Sevenoaks School and Merton College, Oxford, where he was an Exhibitioner but which he left after two years, he first went into the restaurant trade and was Operations Director from 1987 to 1990 with Kennedy Brookes, a publicly-quoted hospitality company. Becoming a journalist in 1990, he rose to the position of Assistant Editor of The Observer newspaper which he joined in 2000 after having worked for the Daily Express, the London Evening Standard and other magazines.
Summerskill was a Labour councillor for the Westbourne Ward of Westminster City Council from 1994 to 1998.
He succeeded former Director Angela Mason to the position of Chief Executive of Stonewall in early 2003, expanding its work from parliamentary lobbying into other fields including workplace equality and campaigning against homophobia in schools. He led campaigns for repeal of Section 28 of the Local Government Act, the introduction of Civil Partnership for lesbian and gay people in the UK and the introduction of 2007 protections against discrimination in the provision of "goods and services", covering areas from healthcare and housing to hotels and holidays. He also led a successful parliamentary campaign in 2007-2008 for introduction of a criminal offence of incitement to homophobic hatred. He is also remarked for restoring Stonewall to financial good health after a number of precarious years.
Under his direction Stonewall's Diversity Champions programme, promoting good practice among major UK employers, has grown from 35 to 400 members, employing 4.2 million people between them. Stonewall's new Education for All programme, launched in 2005, is supported by 70 major teaching and children's organisations.
In 2006, Summerskill was appointed a Commissioner on the UK's new Equality and Human Rights Commission. He had for three years been a member of a Steering Group advising the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on establishing the Commission, which has statutory powers for the first time to promote equality for lesbian and gay people.
His grandmother (Baroness) Edith Summerskill and his aunt (Dr) Shirley Summerskill were both Labour Members of Parliament and government ministers. Edith Summerskill, a former Chairman of the UK Labour Party, was an early advocate of Britain's free National Health Service. Shirley Summerskill helped introduce the UK's Sex Discrimination Act, as a Home Office (Interior) minister.
Ben Summerskill is an occasional contributor to The Guardian and other publications.
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