LGBT in Britain - Work Report (2018)

• More than a third of LGBT staff (35 per cent) have hidden that they are LGBT at work for fear of discrimination.
• One in ten black, Asian and minority ethnic LGBT employees (10 per cent) have been physically attacked by customers or colleagues in the last year.
• Nearly two in five bi people (38 per cent) aren’t out to anyone at work.

LGBT in Britain - Work Report is Stonewall's report based on YouGov research with 3,213 LGBT employees, revealing troubling discrimination in Britain’s workplaces.

Key findings

• Almost one in five LGBT staff (18 per cent) have been the target of negative comments or conduct from work colleagues in the last year because they're LGBT.
• One in eight trans people (12 per cent) have been physically attacked by customers or colleagues inthe last year because of being trans.
• One in ten black, Asian and minority ethnic LGBT staff (10 per cent) have similarly been physically attacked because of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity, compared to three per cent of white LGBT staff.
• Almost one in five LGBT people (18 per cent) who were looking for work said they were discriminated against because of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity while trying to get a job in the last year.
• One in eight black, Asian and minority ethnic LGBT employees (12 per cent) have lost a job in the last year because of being LGBT, compared to four per cent of white LGBT staff.
• Almost two in five bi people (38 per cent) aren’t out to anyone at work about their sexual orientation.
• More than a third of LGBT staff (35 per cent) have hidden or disguised that they are LGBT at work in the last year because they were afraid of discrimination.
• One in eight lesbian, gay and bi people (12 per cent) wouldn’t feel confident reporting any homophobic or biphobic bullying to their employer. One in five trans people (21 per cent) wouldn’t report transphobic bullying in the workplace.
• Almost a third of non-binary people (31 per cent) and one in five trans people (18 per cent) don’t feel able to wear work attire representing their gender expression.

What respondents said

My employer is generally very supportive but doesn’t have a specific LGBT discrimination section in their policies and procedures should discrimination occur. So, if discrimination or harassment does occur – and it does – then they don’t effectively handle things and the LGBT person is blamed for causing problems and being over sensitive.’

Mollie, 51 (Yorkshire and the Humber)

I have not come out to anyone where I currently live or work. I would not feel comfortable or safe coming out to any of my colleagues and have felt reluctant to make friends where I live now in case they find out about my trans history.’

Tom, 42 (East Midlands)

While serving a customer at work I corrected them on pronouns and they laughed in my face and asked me if I had a penis and told me I was wrong. My supervisor witnessed the whole thing and told me not to be so dramatic about it.

Ross, 23 (Scotland)

My office is using the word ‘gay’ as an insult or a slang term. I feel their ignorance regarding bisexual people will be worse. If these particular individuals didn’t work in my office anymore I’d feel comfortable being out in the workplace.’

Megan, 34 (Wales)

What you can do 

Find out about Stonewall's workplace programmes, events and more.