This post summarises some of the most recent data on the extent of discrimination against LGBTQ people, and is aimed at A-level sociology students studying aspects of sex and gender and gender inequality across the A-level specification.
The LGBTQ survey carried out in 2018 by the Government Equalities Office found that:
- LGBT respondents were less satisfied with their life than the general UK population (rating satisfaction 6.5 on average out of 10 compared with 7.7).
- Trans respondents had particularly low life-satisfaction scores (around 5.4 out of 10)
- 40% of respondents had experienced verbal harassment or physical violence because they were LGBTQ in the last 12 months.
- 2% had undergone conversion therapy.
The above survey was based on a sample of 108 100 respondents and was hosted online for a total of 12 weeks.
There was also some evidence from this survey that there is discrimination against Trans people when applying for work, but this is only based on one response…
The 2018 Trans Report from Stonewall found that:
- A third of trans people have been discriminated against because of their gender identity when visiting a café, restaurant, bar or nightclub in the last year.
- More than a quarter of trans people in a relationship in the last year have faced domestic abuse from a partner.
- More than 44 per cent avoid certain streets because they don’t feel safe there as an LGBT person.
The 2018 StoneWall Work Report found that 20% of LGBTQ people had faced some sort of negative discrimination because of their sexual identities in the workplace…
Government Data for England and Wales shows that Hate Crimes against people based on sexuality has been increasing every year since 2015. The latest data show that:
- 54% of Transgender people reported experiencing a negative incident outside of the home because of their sexuality compared to 40% of gay people.
- 11% of Transgender and 5% of gay people reported being victims of physical violence.
- NB around 90% of these incidents were not reported to the police! These are from victim survey results!
(Link to more detailed report on sexuality hate crime).
It’s from the USA but still interesting as a point of comparison…. Trevor’s National Survey on LGBTQ mental health, based on a sample of 35 000 LGBTQ 13-24 year olds found that…
- 75% had experienced discrimination based on their gender or sexuality at least once in their lifetime.
- 42% had seriously considered suicide in the last year, with more than 50% of transgender and non binary youth reporting this.
- 13% reported being subject to conversion therapy .
Relevance to A-level Sociology
Sex and Gender inequalities are one of the core aspects taught across A-level sociology, but statistics and research on sexuality and transgender issues are lacking in most of the A-level text books.
This post is an attempt to make this increasingly relevant aspect of gender and gender identity more accessible.
From a research methods point of view it’s worth noting how little research and monitoring are done on LGBTQ inclusion and discrimination – for example the latest nation wide government survey above was four years ago in 2018.
