Stonewall held its fourth annual Brighton Equality Walk today with over 200 walkers setting off from the historic Royal Pavilion.

Taking the lead were Stonewall's Chief Executive, Ben Summerskill, accompanied by Duckie Diva, Amy Lamé, and the reigning Mr Gay UK, Mark Carter. Corrie favourite and reigning Soapstar Superstar, Antony Cotton, was stuck in traffic, but still managed to join the walk in Hove and was accompanied by fellow QAF cast member, Denise Black. All of these people gave up their time, were absolutely charming on the day and spent much of the walk and post-walk reception talking to people, signing autographs and posing for photos.

The course was new this year and designed specifically for the event by BLAGGS to ensure that the walkers covered the requisite 10km, taking them up around Hove Lawns and down Church Street and Western Road (taking in the sight of Churchill Square). It was then down North Street and up St James Street to Kemp Town, around Lewis Crescent and then back down Marine Parade to Legends... phew!

This year's event was sponsored by American Express, ensuring that every single pound of the £40,000 raised goes directly to the work carried out on our behalf by Stonewall.

And vital work it is too.

Stonewall have been instrumental in lobbying the Government to get through such essential legislation such as the repeal of Section 28, Civil Partnership and the very, very recent Sexual Orientation Regulations, covering equality in the provision of goods and services which came into effect on 30th April this year.

In a nutshell, this means that Lesbians and Gay Men are no longer treated in the eyes of the law as second class citizens.

But the work is far from over. There is still discrimination in the minds of some that leads to homophobia and hate crime leading to assaults and murder. There is still bullying both in the workplace and in schools that prevent lesbians and gay men from fulfilling their potential. There are still religious groups that continue to campaign against any legislation that supports us in living our lives on the basis of their own bigoted views. Society still has many pitfalls and obstacles to be eradicated if we are to lead reasonable lives.

And so it is that I do get a little disappointed in the complacency that we can sometimes show in a place like Brighton - seen throughout the land as the gay and lesbian Utopia. While only 200 determined individuals at this event can raise a fantastic £40,000, imagine what would happen if more people had made the effort. But having said that, 120,000 people attending Brighton Pride barely manage to scrape half that amount...

Perhaps the gloss and glitter of Brighton cocoons us from the rest of the country and the world? I'd like to think that shopping for an outfit for the next big night out comes second to giving a little time and money to ensure that we can visit our partners in hospital, so that gay and lesbian kids aren't been treated like the spawn of satan at school or so that we aren't turned away from any business on the basis of our sexuality...