Stonewall’s newly elected chairwoman, Cat Dixon, has expressed her unwavering commitment to maintaining the charity’s prominent role in the ongoing conversation surrounding LGBTQ+ rights. Dixon, unanimously chosen by the board of trustees in October, acknowledges the significant responsibility that accompanies her new role. With a history as Stonewall’s longest-serving trustee and a former vice-chairwoman, she succeeds Nancy Kelley, who stepped down as chief executive in July.
In her illustrious career, Dixon has served as the chief executive of The Law Society, NHS Resolution, and a higher-education college. She has also held senior positions in private health company BUPA and served as general counsel for the children’s charity, the NSPCC, in addition to her service as an army officer.
Born into a working-class family in Hull, Dixon grew up alongside Stonewall, which was in its early stages in the late 1980s. She aims to maintain the organization’s influential and campaigning role, acknowledging the significant strides made in LGBTQ+ rights but emphasizing the work that remains.
Reflecting on her own journey, Dixon underlines the importance of living authentically and highlights the progress in LGBTQ+ rights, while acknowledging the challenges that persist. She is determined to address the pressing issues facing the LGBTQ+ community today, including transphobia in the media, the lack of a conversion therapy ban, and LGBTQ+-inclusive education.
Dixon’s tenure as chair comes at a crucial juncture for the LGBTQ+ community, and she is determined to guide Stonewall in its mission to advance LGBTQ+ rights, ensuring that the voices of the marginalized are heard and that necessary changes are implemented.
Despite the challenges, Dixon remains optimistic, emphasizing the importance of allies and ongoing conversations with politicians to influence change and create a more inclusive society for LGBTQ+ individuals.