In the face of the Covid-19 crisis, many events and celebrations are being cancelled due to a legitimate and serious risk to public health. However, the cancellation of "real world" London Pride 2020 celebrations also means that some nonprofits, like Stonewall Housing, are missing out on the most critical fundraising opportunity of the year, putting at risk funding for essential and often life-saving services for LGBT+ people.

Founded in 1983, Stonewall Housing was the first nonprofit to receive funding from the government specifically to provide LGBT+ specialist housing support. Since then, they have helped tens of thousands of LGBT+ people to find safe and secure homes. Their six supported housing schemes provide safe space for those who are made homeless specifically because of their sexual or gender identity. They also provide housing advice, mental health advocacy and domestic abuse support to the LGBT+ community across London.

Many service users of Stonewall Housing accommodation already experience feelings of isolation. Six out of 10 service users say that their only consistent daily human interaction is with a member of the Stonewall Housing support team. Missing the chance to celebrate Pride and gather with the LGBT+ community will be a huge loss for those who were already involuntarily "social distanced" before Covid-19, merely because of their sexual or gender identity. 

The £1000 (or more!) raised will go directly to supporting the essential services Stonewall Housing provides for LGBT+ people, representing funds which would have usually been generated around the all-important Pride season. This money will help them to keep their supported accommodation, housing advice, mental health advocacy, and domestic abuse support programs running.

You can see their Pride 2020 video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtuTFvt9K9g)