LGBT statistics: How many gay and bisexual people are in the UK?
Britain is more gay, lesbian and bisexual than ever, stats show (TOLGA AKMEN/AFP/Getty)
Britain has a higher proportion of bisexual, lesbian and gay people than ever before, according to new survey statistics.
A survey, published by healthcare company euroClinix, found that 13 percent of respondents identified as LGB, with seven percent defining themselves as bisexual and six percent saying they were gay or a lesbian.
These LGBT statistics, published in the Mirror, would mean there were around nine million gay, bisexual and lesbian people living in the UK.
The LGBT statistics showed that there is a lower proportion of straight people in Britain than ever (TOLGA AKMEN/AFP/Getty)
This represents a huge rise on stats released by the government in 2016, which showed the number of LGB people in Britain reaching one million—or two percent of the population—for the first time.
“Those aged between 18-24 were by far the most likely to say they were gay, lesbian or bisexual.”
While 93.4 percent of respondents self-identified as heterosexual in 2016, the latest stats—gathered from a survey of 2,000 people—show that Britain is much less straight two years later, with that figure falling to just 87 percent.
A euroClinix spokesperson said that according to the survey’s stats, younger people were significantly more inclined to define themselves as queer.
“Those aged between 18-24 were by far the most likely to say they were gay, lesbian or bisexual—24 percent of them did—a proportion that steadily declines as you inch up the age scale,” they said.
Young people were the most likely to say they were gay, lesbian or bisexual (Rob Stothard/Getty)
Survey highlights lesbian, bisexual and gay struggle
The euroClinix spokesperson added: “Maybe the survey reveals the extent to which taboos persist for older people and those living in more conservative parts of the country, so individuals remain reluctant to tell the truth.”
This reflects the findings of other studies in recent years.
A survey released in April by LGBT charity Stonewall showed that 35 percent of LGBT people in the UK are still in the closet at work.
Last year, another study found that the majority of gay men in Britain do not feel comfortable holding hands with their partner in the street.
This may be related to the prevalence of hate crimes in the UK, with government stats showing last month that attacks based on the sexual orientation of the victim had increased by 27 percent over the past 12 months.
LGBT statistics show London has more gay and bisexual people
London had the highest percentage of gay, lesbian and bisexual people, according to the stats (TOLGA AKMEN/AFP/Getty)
When it comes to cities in Britain, the survey found that more gay, bisexual and lesbian people live in London than anywhere else.
Out of Britain’s queer population, 17 percent live in the capital city.
London hosts the UK’s biggest Pride parade, though this year’s edition was tainted by an anti-trans group which hijacked the parade to lead it for most of its route.
Pride in London condemned the “vile” actions of the group and apologised for the incident, but still received criticism after initially releasing a statement citing “hot weather” and “safety” as the reasons the hijacking was allowed to happen.
