Interleaved with Sir Ian's full diary of acting engagements, he finds as much time as he can to support STONEWALL GROUP UK (website: www.stonewall.org.uk) of which he is a founder-member. Stonewall works to establish legal and social equality for lesbians and gays in the United Kingdom. As well as serving as a member of Stonewall, Sir Ian is chair of the IRIS TRUST, the charity attached to Stonewall.

Click to enlarge
Three of the co-founders of Stonewall UK:
John Miskelly (left, in Haring T), Ian McKellen (center), and Michael Cashman (right, in black)
London Gay Pride 1993

Sir Ian is an active participant in the Equality Show, which annually raises a substantial contribution to the core-funding of the Stonewall Group UK.

His latest solo show A KNIGHT OUT  has been seen up and down the United Kingdom as well as in New York, Los Angeles, Durban, Johannesburg and CapeTown. Proceeds from A KNIGHT OUT IN LOS ANGELES benefitted five important gay rights, educational, and performance organizations.

He is often been called to lend his talents to activist theatre and film projects, such as Surviving Friendly Fire and Thin Ice.

In addition, he is a patron of the following organizations

  • English Touring Theatre
  • Theatre Museum, London
  • Hackney Empire Theatre, London
  • West End Cares
  • Theatre Royal Chatham Trust
  • St Paul's Art Trust
  • FFLAG (Familes & Friends of Lesbians & Gays) UK
  • James Menzies-Kitchen Memorial Fund
  • Gay & Lesbian Friend Helpline, Gloucestershire
  • Aled Richards Trust
  • Glasgow Gay & Lesbian Centre 
  • Holocaust Exhibition, Imperial War Museum, London

He is Vice-President of : 

  • National Youth Theatre
  • London Actors Centre
  • Carrey-Friend (Isle of Man Lesbian & Gay Network)

He serves on the Artists Advisory Board of The Acting Company, New York

A selection of his activist writings is available here.

For a good selection of news clippings, visit South Bank University's "Knitting Circle"

Other causes that Sir Ian supports include

Only Make Believe