Pink Saltire
943. Stuart Duffy
Stuart Duffy, from Fife, is an LGBT+ campaigner creating new Pride organisations and events across Scotland.
![Stuart Duffy](https://www.pointsoflight.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Stuart-Duffy.png)
As the founder of the ‘Pink Saltire’ charity, Stuart is dedicated to giving a voice to LGBT+ people in more rural and isolated areas of Scotland. Last year he helped set up Fife’s inaugural Pride and he has supported communities organise new Pride events in Aberdeen, Dundee and Perthshire taking place this summer. Stuart has also embarked upon a national tour of Pride festivals where he aims to reach over 50,000 people with information celebrating LGBT history and heritage. He also runs pinksaltire.com, a news hub for LGBT related issues with views across all digital channels reaching 1.4 million in over 100 countries.
Stuart’s award coincides with a Pride reception held by the Prime Minister at No 10 Downing Street, attended by other Points of Light recipients who are supporting LGBT communities across the UK.
PM @Theresa_May has awarded a #PointsofLight award to Stuart Duffy, creator of @PinkSaltire for his LGBT campaigning work across rural communities in Scotland. #Pride pic.twitter.com/lOHfAPPo4G
— UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) July 4, 2018
In a personal letter to Stuart, Prime Minister Theresa May said:
“Your work establishing ‘Pink Saltire’ has given a voice to LGBT people living in remote areas of Scotland and is giving them the opportunity to be part of a vibrant LGBT community. You should feel proud of the new Pride events launching across Scotland as a result of your efforts.”
Stuart said:
“I’m incredibly proud to receive this award from the Prime Minister today. Volunteering has been an important part of my life from the age of 14 and it always gives me a real sense of achievement to contribute something to the community.
“As the Founder of ‘Pink Saltire’, a charity focussing on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) equality in Scotland, I’ve been inspired to help improve the representation of LGBT voices in communities around the country. From our LGBT digital news hub at pinksaltire.com, to our community consultations and LGBT work in schools, the reach and impact of ‘Pink Saltire’ is improving lives and changing attitudes towards the LGBT community. Most recently, we’ve worked with communities in Aberdeen, Dundee, Perthshire and Fife to help them develop Pride events for the first time, creating a highly visible opportunity for people to come together, celebrate the contribution of LGBT people and to tackle discrimination by breaking down barriers.
“Pride events are a fantastic vehicle for change in communities right across the UK and we have a responsibility to continue to fight for improved representation for all those LGBT people who feel marginalised or discriminated against in the UK and beyond. At ‘Pink Saltire’, we’ll continue that important work to demonstrate Scotland is a welcoming and inclusive country.”
Pictured: above – Stuart with Will Watters and Pani Kular from the Pink Saltire team; below – Stuart receiving his award from Prime Minister Theresa May