Campaign for Equal Civil Partnerships

A Supreme Court case and cross-spectrum campaign that led to a change in the law, extending civil partnerships to all couples – and shaping how I think about philanthropy, strategy and change.

In 2014, I went to a registry office in central London to formalise my relationship with my partner, Dr Rebecca Steinfeld. We were told that civil partnerships were only available to same-sex couples.

That difference in treatment affected over three million cohabiting couples in the UK. It was unjustified – and ultimately found to be unlawful.

After defeats in the High Court and Court of Appeal, the case went to the UK Supreme Court. In a unanimous 5–0 judgment in Steinfeld and Keidan v Secretary of State, the Court found the law to be discriminatory. The ruling paved the way for legislative change, extending civil partnerships to all couples.

In December 2019, we returned to the same registry office – this time able to register as civil partners.

Since then, thousands of couples have gained access to legal protections and a formal alternative to marriage.

How the work came together

The campaign combined legal action, political engagement, public advocacy and philanthropic support.

It brought together a wide coalition, building alliances across the political spectrum and drawing on a mix of strategies — from litigation and petitions to crowdfunding and grant funding.

That combination was critical. No single approach would have been enough on its own.

What this shows

This experience shaped how I think about philanthropy and social change.

It highlighted both the limits of traditional grantmaking, and the potential of combining funding with legal strategy, campaigning and political engagement.

It also reinforced the importance of timing, persistence and alliances — and of working across different parts of the system to achieve change.

I now draw on that experience in my work with philanthropists and foundations, helping them think more strategically about how to use funding to support change in practice.