Lynne Featherstone

Well - as predicted - I failed to win Politician of the Year at the Stonewall Awards last night. Ben Bradshaw (Labour Minister) won the accolade as the first openly gay Minister. I think, judging from the blurb in the program - that I was nominated because of my work both on the Equality Bill and my campaign to end the blanket ban on gay men giving blood donations. (It should be about behaviour - not discriminating against one group. A monogomous gay man is a lot safer than a rampant heterosexual).

Anyway - I don't do many of these glittery evenings - but I have to say Stonewall threw a good party (sponsored by Barclays). You would not have known that there was a recession outside of the V & A. In the most beautiful of surroundings the champagne flowed, the stars were out in force and the canapes and the bowl food was of the highest order.

The awards themselves were hosted by Gok Wan, fashion guru, who I adore actually. And they were the point of the evening and both nominees and winners are people who have genuinely moved the agenda forward, been brave, stood up and contributed to the improvement in all walks of life for the gay community.

And - of course - for those who don't know - I have been on 'How to Look Good Naked' a couple of times - thankfully (for all watching) with my clothes on - as I am joint campaigning with them to give girls 'body confidence' a fight back against the pressure of stick thin images and the loss of self confidence and self hate that is a consequence.

Local MP Lynne Featherstone was last night celebrating with Gok Wan at the Stonewall Awards despite missing out on the top spot for their prestigious Politician of the Year award at the Victoria and Albert Museum.

The Hornsey and Wood Green MP earlier in the autumn appeared on Gok’s How to Look Good Naked, in support of his Body Confidence campaign.

Lynne Featherstone MP comments:

“It’s great to get my work for gay and lesbian rights noticed with such a prestigious nomination – shame to lose out on the top prize, but I’ve had a great time here tonight.

“And I was thrilled to get the chance to catch up with Gok after my stint on How to Look Good Naked. They really are doing admirable work, campaigning to help young people feel confident about themselves.”