The story of LGBT rights in the UK is one of growing acceptance as our nation, now more than ever, takes pride in supporting our LGBT neighbours, colleagues, family and friends.
That’s the finding of a new Opinium poll of 2,000 adults from across the UK for Stonewall, the world’s second largest LGBT charity, on their feelings towards four different communities: gay, bi, lesbian and trans people.
The survey, commissioned to mark the beginning of Pride month today, also reveals how the public feels about one group, eg, gay men, is remarkably consistent with how they feel about all the LGBT groups.
While that may surprise onlookers, it’s merely evidence of what LGBT people have always known – that homophobia, biphobia and transphobia are all linked in motivation.
Data shows anti-LGBT sentiments are now restricted to a tiny minority of the public.
Fewer than one in ten said they felt disgust towards LGBT people (9% for gay, falling to 8% for trans and bi and 7% towards lesbians). And fewer than one in 20 said they felt either envy, resentment or fear.
Indeed, of the options presented, the most common feeling respondents reported towards the LGBT population was respect.
In all, around one in three felt actively respectful towards us (37% and 38% for gay and lesbian people, falling to 32% and 31% for bi and trans). One in five reported feelings of admiration (trans people finishing top of the class with 21% of the vote).
Overall, the data shows that the UK public are four times more likely to feel positively towards LGBT people than they are negatively.
That’s an incredible turnaround in social attitudes that felt unattainable even during my lifetime.
Compare with data from historical British Social Attitudes surveys, which reveal that just 35 years ago two-thirds of Brits felt same-sex relationships were “always wrong”.
Yet it is important to recognise that even a small minority who hold such strong negative views can have a significant negative impact on the safety of LGBT people.
And the survey shows us areas of focus where we have work to do to build up cultures of respect. Men and people over 55 were the least likely to support LGBT people, and there is still a significant number who we need to move from neutral to active support.
Despite this we should read this data as a triumph for LGBT people and our allies, who for 50 years have stood proudly in the face of adversity.
And it is a timely reminder that the numbers don’t lie: the UK public supports our diverse communities.
