Social exclusion

The Senedd election took place on 6th May 2021. 

For the election, each of the main political parties published their manifestos, which tell us what they want to get done over the next Senedd term.

Prior to the election we highlighted the relevant sections in the major party’s manifestos below.

Thank you to everyone who has been encouraging their candidates to commit to LGBT+ equality. 

Whatever your priorities are this election, take a look at the commitments parties are making to LGBT+ equality. Find out who your local candidates are and ask them where they stand on LGBT equality. Share what is important to you in this election using the hashtag #CymruComeOutVoting.

• A new report, Ace in the UK, by Stonewall and activist Yasmin Benoit uncovers for the first time the shocking experiences of healthcare, workplace and societal discrimination that ace people face in the UK and the need for better legal and policy protections 
• The report reveals that ace people, an umbrella term used to describe people who experience little, fluctuating or no sexual attraction (including asexuality) are less likely to be open about their orientation to friends and family – with analysis of Government data showing that only one in four (26.1%) asexual people are open about their sexuality with friends 
• The report highlights that ace people face hostile work and healthcare environments, with experiences ranging from sexual harassment, delays to vital healthcare, and intrusive questions about their sexuality from colleagues and healthcare professionals 
• The report’s recommendations include ensuring that asexual people are protected under the Equality Act’s guidance and that ace people’s needs are included in wider LGBTQ+-specific training for healthcare providers. 

A new report by Stonewall and Yasmin Benoit – two years in the making – explores in-depth the experiences of ace people when accessing healthcare and at work. Ace people make up between 1-2% of the general population but their experiences are not well understood by the general public. Ace in the UK reveals the alarming lack of understanding that they face throughout society – and the effect that has on their ability to go about their daily lives. The report highlights that, even within LGBTQ+ spaces, ace people are too often overlooked and their concerns ignored. 

At work, half of ace people (49%) weren’t out to any colleagues, more than twice the rate of all LGBTQ+ respondents (18%).

And of those who were out, only one in six (17.6%) had a universally positive experience of being out – again half the rate of wider LGBTQ+ respondents (40.8%). With experiences of sexual harassment, disbelief and inappropriate curiosity from colleagues told through our focus groups and interviews, there is a clear need for action on workplace discrimination and harassment. 

In healthcare settings, our analysis found that asexual people were around 50% more likely to have never told healthcare staff about their asexuality, with a quarter (24.3%) citing that they were afraid of a negative reaction, and 8.4% citing that they had had a bad experience in the past.

Indeed 18.1% of ace respondents said a disclosure had had a negative impact on their care. Issues in healthcare settings were principally in reproductive health, around smear tests, and inappropriately having their asexuality assessed as a mental health condition.  

Amongst a range of recommendations, the report urges the World Health Organisation to end its classification of asexuality as a mental health condition, as it did for homosexuality and trans people, to include asexual people in the Statutory Guidance for the 2010 Equality Act, calls for increased training on supporting asexual people in healthcare settings, and a ban on conversion therapy to attempt to ‘cure’ ace people. 

Robbie de Santos, Director of Communications and External Affairs at Stonewall, (he/him) said: ‘This report shines a long-overdue light on the barriers that ace people in the UK face. It’s vital that all LGBTQ+ people are allowed to go about their lives free from discrimination and prejudice.  But – as our findings show – there are widespread societal misconceptions of what it means to be ace and how to best support ace people at work and in healthcare settings.  

‘We hope that this important project will further people’s understanding of the very real challenges that ace people currently face and we urge political leaders to adopt our recommendations to better support ace people to get their basic needs met and thrive as themselves.’ 

Yasmin Benoit, Asexual Activist and Researcher, (she/her) said: "The ace community deserves legal recognition. We deserve protection. We deserve acceptance, and we deserve to be heard. With this report, I wanted to dig into the issues facing the ace community today and amplify the voices we never usually hear. This is a much-needed step in understanding what asexuality is, what asexual discrimination looks like and setting the ball in motion for actually doing something about it. It's time that the world paid attention. I'm grateful that I've had the chance to start this project with an accomplished organisation like Stonewall, and to use my platform and education to publish a report that is really going to make a difference." 

Focus group participant describing their experience opening up about their asexuality: 

 ‘I've tried to explain to someone that I am asexual, and they said ‘You know, there's something wrong with you. You probably need to pray about it’… I remember feeling inferior about [who I am].” 

Visit our Ace Hub.

Every year on 8 March, we mark International Women’s Day: celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women, and raising awareness of the barriers and discrimination they still face around the world.  

Today, we would like to highlight and celebrate the work we are doing as part of the Out of the Margins project, aimed at supporting lesbian, bi and trans women (LBT+ communities) globally.  

Across the globe, LBT+ communities are excluded by international movements and the systems that should serve them. The Out of the Margins project strives to promote and protect the rights of LBT+ women across the world, through strengthening the capacity of local civil society organisations. This work is informed by the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), developed in 2015 to create achievable steps towards peace and prosperity for people and the planet by 2030.  

Out of the Margins draws on three specific SDGs: ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages; achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls; and promoting peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, providing access to justice for all and building effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels. 

Using these SDGs as a framework highlights how the experiences of LBT+ women are inextricably linked to other issues happening globally - this is not often accounted for in international development programs.  

LBT+ women experience multiple inequalities across gender equality, health, human rights and development spaces, resulting in high levels of stigma, discrimination and violence. For example, LBT women are more likely (31%) than gay, bi, and trans men (21%) to experience food insecurity. 

There is also a high prevalence, and specific experiences of violence, against LBT+ women including intimate partner violence, family violence, sexual violence, and police violence. In recent times this has been exacerbated by the global anti-rights movement working to diminish the rights of women and LGBTQ+ people globally.  

Out of the Margins was established in 2017, with the support of FCDO, to advance LBT+ rights through research centred on the SDGs and rooted in local communities, using network-building and advocacy.  

In 2024, we have reactivated this network to tackle the impacts of the anti-rights movement and the rollback of LBT+ rights, and to seize opportunities of the SDGs in the lead-up to 2030. With three partners in the Caribbean, Southern Africa, and Eastern Europe, we will develop innovative local strategies to counter anti-rights movement tactics, focusing on SDGs priorities to advance LBT+ rights. 

Local learnings will be shared with the global network through an interactive digital platform and peer learning events, to strengthen technical and legal knowledge and skills across civil society organisations. This will create a sustained network of informed, enabled community leaders linked globally on advancing LBT+ rights, and ensure they are part of development initiatives. 

This network will share resources and toolkits to increase participation, effectiveness and impact of LBT+ organisations and across civil society globally. Their advocacy will raise awareness of LBT+ needs, and promote positive action by governments, donors and multilaterals to commit to LBT+ rights through the SDG 2030 opportunities. 

Together, we’re fighting for a world where lesbians, bi women and trans people are fully included in their societies, and finally brought Out of the Margins. 

Visit Out of the Margins for more information. 

Stonewall's Chair of Trustees, Cat Dixon, on the power of visibility, representation, and creating change for the lesbian community.

As a lesbian, I sometimes feel caught between visibility and invisibility. My decision to come out at work which, I first did in the 1990s, and be openly lesbian and embrace my authentic self, was at the time, and still is, an act of defiance against societal norms and expectations.

I remember being asked questions like whether I was “the husband” and I suspect many struggled to know quite what to make of me! Despite, being “out”, I didn’t want my sexuality to totally define me – it is a fundamental part of me, but I have always preferred to be seen and judged on what I do and the person I am, as opposed to being “the lesbian”.

Being a visible lesbian and women leader in my role as CEO of Ciarb and Chair of Stonewall, however, is not just about being seen; it is about reclaiming space, challenging stereotypes, and advocating for LGBTQ+ rights. In a world that still, and increasingly, struggles with acceptance and equality for the LGBTQ+ community, visibility is a form of resistance and empowerment.

Visibility is not just about being seen; it is about being heard, represented, and respected. It is about breaking the silence and speaking out against discrimination, prejudice, and injustice and this is why I am the Chair of Stonewall. I have experienced direct discrimination at work because of my sexuality which resulted in me leaving the Army and other form of discrimination both in and out of work including exclusion, verbal abuse and, at times, the threat of violence.

Being a visible lesbian means living openly and unapologetically as a lesbian woman. It means refusing to hide or downplay your identity for the comfort of others. It means being proud of who you are and celebrating your queerness in all its forms.

One of the key reasons why visibility is important for me as a lesbian is therefore representation. Representation matters because it validates our existence, our experiences, and our identities. When we see other lesbians and others from the GBTQ+ community being visible and unapologetic, it sends a powerful message that we are not alone, that we are part of a vibrant and diverse community. Representation also challenges stereotypes and misconceptions about lesbians, showing the world that we come in all shapes, sizes, and colours.

Visibility also plays a crucial role in advocacy and activism. When we are visible, we have the opportunity to educate others about LGBTQ+ issues, raise awareness about the challenges we face, and advocate for change. Our visibility can inspire and empower other LGBTQ+ individuals to embrace their identities and speak out against discrimination. By being visible, we can create a ripple effect of change that extends far beyond our own lives.

My own experience as a visible lesbian has been both empowering and challenging. Coming out was a deeply personal and liberating experience, but it also came with its share of fear, shame and uncertainties. I have faced discrimination, prejudice, and microaggressions, but I have also found support, acceptance, and love within the LGBTQ+ community. Being visible has allowed me to connect with the LGBTQ+ community, share my story, and advocate for LGBTQ+ rights.

In my journey towards visibility, Stonewall has played a crucial role in supporting and empowering LGBTQ+ individuals. Stonewall, through advocacy, education, and campaigns, has been at the forefront of the fight for LGBTQ+ rights in the UK and beyond. Stonewall has changed laws, policies, and attitudes towards LGBTQ+ individuals, making the world a more inclusive and accepting place.

So for me, being a visible lesbian is about more than just visibility; it is about authenticity, advocacy, and empowerment. It is about embracing who we are, challenging the status quo, and fighting for a more just and inclusive world.

By being visible, we can inspire others, create change, and pave the way for a more accepting future. Together, we can make a difference and create a world where all LGBTQ+ individuals can live openly, proudly, and authentically.

Happy Lesbian Visibility Week.

Visit our Lesbian Hub.

6 February is Time to Talk Day, an initiative by Time to Change that encourages everyone to be more open about mental health. 

Our Senior Campaigns Officer, Molly Maher, opens up about the mental health impact of experiencing biphobia, and the importance of community.

I think a lot of lesbian, gay, bi and queer people have that light bulb moment where you realise, you’re not straight. I had a few. When Emily and Naomi kissed on Skins, when I read an Agony Aunt column about having a crush on your best friend, when I met a proud, openly queer person for the first time – all these moments bought up feelings of excitement and dread.

I wanted to be myself, but I hoped and prayed that my feelings would go away, because I feared rejection.

Growing up I didn’t have the language to tell people I was bi. I knew I wasn’t only attracted to men but felt ashamed and had to hide it from my friends. At school, calling someone a lesbian was considered the worst insult, so I knew that if I came out, I’d risk losing people or being treated differently. That made me push down my feelings and hide parts of myself, even from myself.

I think that denying my experiences lead to anxiety and negatively affected my self-esteem. I couldn’t express, explore and embrace my full self.

Three in ten bi men (30 per cent) and almost one in ten bi women (8 per cent), say they cannot be open about their sexual orientation with any of their friends, compared to two per cent of gay men and one per cent of lesbians.

LGBT in Britain – Home and Communities (2018), p8

I recently facilitated a Bi Empowerment Programme, where we aim to empower attendees to celebrate what it means to them to be bi and build a collective sense of solidarity. It was incredible to spend time with other bi people and hear their stories. We talked about how biphobia had made us feel like we were not ‘queer enough,’ and how that had sparked or fed self-doubt, anxiety and depression.

It hurts when the community dismisses or attacks your identity as a bi person, pushes you to the fringes, stereotypes you or denies who you are as a ‘phase’ or a ‘lie.’ When I told gay and lesbian friends of mine that I was going to tell my parents I’m bi, they told me I should ‘check’ first by sleeping with a woman. When I look back at that, I’m disappointed that they would doubt me and put me down instead of raising me up the way I hoped they would. After all, I know myself better than anyone.

More than one in four bi women (27 per cent) and almost one in five bi men (18 per cent) have experienced discrimination or poor treatment from others in their local LGBT community because of their sexual orientation, compared to nine per cent of lesbians and four per cent of gay men.

LGBT in Britain – Home and Communities (2018), p13

I have experienced anxiety, depression and PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder); while my experiences of biphobia are only one thread running through my mental health challenges, they are inextricable from who I am and my wellness overall.

I’ve come on a journey of self-acceptance through therapy and by surrounding myself with LGBT and queer people who are supportive and affirming. If you can, reach out to friends, colleagues or family about your mental health or approach some of the amazing services out there, like Samaritans and LGBT+ Switchboard. You don’t have to be in crisis to reach out, and taking that step is courageous not weak. You deserve to be heard.

72 per cent of bi women and 56 per cent of bi men have experienced anxiety in the last year.

LGBT in Britain – Home and Communities (2018), p7

I hid my identity from myself and others for a long time. But after so many light bulb moments I hit a fork in the road: I could risk losing myself by staying in the closet, or risk losing others by coming out. I’m lucky that I had the option to come out safely, and in the end the people who matter to me most have become my greatest allies.

I see my route to mental wellness as a life-long journey of trying to show myself love and compassion, as well as listening and learning from the experiences of other people in our community. Challenging ourselves to show solidarity to other LGBT people, recognising when our views and attitudes reflect that we’re in a privileged position, and making an effort to include others can make our community safer and stronger.

Solidarity has helped me overcome the harmful myths of biphobia and take pride in being bi!

Do you want to help lesbian, gay, bi and trans people feel more included?

Donate to support our work.

Visit our Bi Hub.

• First-of-its-kind research uncovers what life is like for LGBT young people not in education, employment or training

• Bullying at school, discrimination in the workplace and lack of home support can have devastating impact on mental health and prevent LGBT young people from reaching their potential

• Almost one in five LGBT people (18 per cent) looking for work have faced discrimination trying to get a job because of who they are

A new report by lesbian, gay, bi and trans equality charity Stonewall and BritainThinks – Shut Out –reveals for the first-time what life is like for LGBT young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEET).

The research shows that anti-LGBT bullying, lack of support at home or visible role models can have a devastating impact on LGBT young people’s mental health, and lead many to being ‘shut out’ of higher education and work. The report finds that once out of school and employment, LGBT young people are slipping through the gaps and face significant obstacles to re-entering education and work.

Through in-depth interviews and workshops, 30 LGBT young people were asked about their experiences of being not in education, training and employment, their mental health experiences and what would help them in the future.

Key findings show why these young people left education, training and employment, including:

• Experiences of familial rejection after coming out as LGBT
• Isolation at school and college due to anti-LGBT bullying and a lack of LGBT-specific support
• Negative experiences in the workplace, including anti-LGBT harassment

The report goes on to show that once out of education and employment, mental health struggles and difficulties accessing opportunities continue to hold LGBT young people back and prevent them from reaching their full potential.

Family relationships

The new report found that a breakdown in relationships with family, including rejection from family members due to being LGBT, was a key challenge for many LGBT young people.

Sean, a 24-year-old trans man from England, said: ‘My mum didn’t want me to transition, so I ended up moving into a hostel for a while.’

My mum didn’t want me to transition, so I ended up moving into a hostel for a while.' 

Sean, 24

Previous research from Stonewall has found that only half of lesbian, gay and bi people (46 per cent) and trans people (47 per cent) feel able to be open about their sexual orientation or gender identity to everyone in their family.

Shut Out shows how difficult family relationships can leave LGBT young people without support, which can have a profound impact on their mental health and ability to stay in education or work.

Bullying in the classroom

Many of the young LGBT people interviewed expressed how experiences of bullying, coupled with a lack of support from teachers, led them to become disengaged from their education.

Aiden, a 21-year-old gay man from Scotland, said ‘At school, the bullying was really related to me being gay…I had to have a lot of time off when I was in school because of this discrimination. When I turned 18, I just stopped going.’

Stonewall’s School Report found that LGBT young people face troubling levels of isolation in Britain’s schools, nearly half of lesbian, gay, bi and trans pupils (45 per cent) – including 64 per cent of trans pupils – are bullied for being LGBT. Young LGBT people also face higher instances of mental health challenges, with two thirds of LGBT people aged 18-24 (68 per cent) experiencing depression in the last year.

The first time I experienced depression was when I was 14. I was young and in care, and I got feelings for a girl. 

Adela, 23

The combination of these factors is preventing some LGBT young people from achieving their goals by shutting them out of education and limiting employment opportunities.

Adela, a 23 year old bi/pan woman from Wales said: ‘The first time I experienced depression was when I was 14. I was young and in care, and I got feelings for a girl.'

Mathew who is 21, gender-questioning and from Scotland said: ‘I was nervous about [leaving the house] because of the amount of times I’ve been bullied as a kid. I sometimes couldn't bring myself to leave my front door.’

Life after school

Leaving education to go to university or enter the workforce is a tricky transition for some LGBT young people. Of those that did go on to university, many felt forced to stop their studies due to unwelcoming environments which made their mental health worse.

Participants also shared their experiences of feeling forced to leave jobs because of anti-LGBT bullying, while some put off applying for positions as they feared they would be discriminated against. Stonewall research revealed that almost one in five LGBT people (18 per cent) looking for work have faced discrimination trying to get a job because of who they are.

He was anti-LGBT, and said that if any employees were gay, he’d fire them. So I left … I felt unsafe as an LGBT person. 

Jamie, 19

Jamie, a 19-year-old non-binary person from England, spoke about their experience of being managed by someone who was openly homophobic: ‘He was a dodgy boss. He made me feel unsafe. He was anti-LGBT, and said that if any employees were gay, he’d fire them. So I left… I felt unsafe as an LGBT person.’

Barriers to re-entry

The LGBT young people interviewed described how challenging it was to re-enter education, employment and training once they had become shut out. A range of factors led to them being unable to get back into work or school, including poor mental and physical health.

The report also found that many of the young LGBT people lacked the practical support and knowledge they needed to find training opportunities and routes into work. As a result, the charity is calling for better mental health support for LGBT young people and specific careers guidance to help those that are shut out of education and employment.

Mo Wiltshire, Director of Education and Youth at Stonewall, said: ‘For the first time, this research sheds light on the challenges that young lesbian, gay, bi and trans people have faced, leading them to become shut out of education, employment or training.

Schools, colleges, local authorities and employers need to open their doors to LGBT young people, starting by creating environments in which everyone can thrive. 

Mo Wiltshire, Stonewall Director of Education and Youth

‘This research has brought up many areas which we know present particular difficulty for LGBT people, such as bullying and a lack of support from their school days right through to the workplace. But now we can see that these challenges have lasting impacts, which is why it’s time to act.

‘Schools, colleges, local authorities and employers need to open their doors to LGBT young people, starting by creating environments in which everyone can thrive. No one should be shut out of education or work because they are LGBT, and we will keep fighting until every LGBT person has the support they need to be themselves and reach their full potential.’

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CW: asylum, mental health.

Today is Bi Visibility Day and we've asked Vaneet Mehta, a bi activist, to tell us what it means to him. This year, Vaneet's hashtag #BisexualMenExist trended worldwide and helped countless people see themselves reflected in society. 

Today is Bi Visibility Day, a day that has been celebrated since 1999. This is a day to recognise bisexual history, celebrate the bisexual community, and talk about the issues and experiences that bisexual people face. While bisexual people have come a long way since 1999, there are numerous issues that still persist, issues that are rarely highlighted or discussed within the LGBTQ+ community.

According to Stonewall’s statistics, when looking at LGB people, bisexual people are more likely to experience anxiety, self-harm and suicidal thoughts when compared to their gay and lesbian counterparts. In every category, bisexual women were worse off by a fair margin. And these findings are replicated in numerous other studies in other countries, too.

Bisexual people experience both the homophobia that gay and lesbian people face, along with biphobia.

This disparity between different groups in our LGBTQ+ community often isn’t talked about but it is important that it is, as it shows the specific impact that biphobia has on bisexual people’s lives. Bisexual people experience both the homophobia that gay and lesbian people face, along with biphobia. And when they experience discrimination, there are fewer places for them to turn to. 

The LGBTQ+ community often isn’t a safe space for bisexual people. Historically speaking, bisexual people were often shunned from these spaces. For example, the London Lesbian and Gay Centre banned bisexual groups from using the space. But this isn’t just a historical issue. According to Stonewall’s statistics, 27 per cent of bi women and 18 per cent of bi men noted the discrimination they faced within their local LGBTQ+ community because of their sexual orientation. This is compared to just 9 per cent of lesbians and 4 per cent of gay men. 

This is likely to factor into why 50 per cent of bi men and 43 per cent of bi women stated that they never attend LGBTQ+ specific venues and events, compared to 33 per cent of lesbians and 27 per cent of gay men. The safety in these spaces just isn’t there; they aren’t made for bisexual people.

Bisexual people noted this and started creating their own spaces, and there are a ton of great spaces online and in person for bisexual people. The Bisexual Index, Bi Survivors Network, Biscuit, London Bisexual Meet-up, Bi Pride UK, Bi Community News, BiCon, to name a few. But then a new issue arises: funding. There are reports in the US that show that, despite bisexual people making up roughly half of the LGBTQ+ community, less than 1 per cent of funding goes to spaces specifically made for bisexual people.

While the climate has improved for bisexual people, we still see the same topics arising again and again. ‘Bisexual people are transphobic’, despite the fact that bisexual doesn’t mean attraction to cis men and cis women but simply attraction to more than one gender, inclusive of all gender identities. ‘Bisexual people are cheaters’, simply because our attraction goes beyond a single gender. ‘Bisexual people are secretly gay/straight’, perpetuating the idea that bisexuality is just a phase.

I have had my sexuality questioned, both in person and online, from outside and inside the LGBTQ+ community.

These are all things I have seen online, constantly. I have had my sexuality questioned, both in person and online, from outside and inside the LGBTQ+ community. I have been asked how I know I’m bisexual, had my dating and sexual history quizzed, and asked which gender I prefer like they’re trying to gauge my ‘true’ sexuality. It becomes exhausting and frustrating to deal with. I spent so long questioning my own sexuality and now I have finally come out, I have everyone else questioning me instead. 

We experience constant discrimination, are robbed of our spaces and are denied our existence. And yet people still believe that bisexual people have it easier. They think of bisexuality as a duality, a combination of gay and straight. They believe that our partial straightness gives us a level of privilege, but as all these statistics (as well as many others) show, this couldn’t be further from the case. 

But this issue is so prevalent, it can even lead to death. Due to these stereotypes around bisexuality, bisexual asylum seekers are less likely to be granted asylum in the UK. There is this idea that if the person in question is capable of hiding their same-sex attraction in any form, they can return home and live out a safe existence. But in fact, they are sent home to their deaths. This fundamental lack of understanding on bisexuality puts lives at risk, especially for bisexual people of colour. 

I spend a significant amount of my time within the community trying to educate people on bisexuality. I try to use my platform to dispel the myths and create awareness on the struggles we face. I do my best to support bisexual people, creating visibility in any way I can. This year, my hashtag #BisexualMenExist trended worldwide and helped countless people see themselves reflected in society. I’m hoping that my book on bisexual men, along with the T-shirts I helped create, will amplify this further. There’s a lot of work that needs to be done, but to ask bisexual people to do all of it isn’t good enough.

Those who claim to be allies to the LGBTQ+ community need to interrogate which members they are helping and how.

It is time for change. Those who claim to be allies to the LGBTQ+ community need to interrogate which members they are helping and how. Other members of the LGBTQ+ community outside the B need to show solidarity to their bisexual siblings.

Bisexual people need help, support and resources to continue to help some of the most vulnerable people in our community. Bisexuality is not a phase. For many, it is their end point. For others, who knows? Sexuality is a spectrum, it is fluid, it’s free, and it is time we embrace and accept that.

Vaneet's book 'Bisexual Men Exist' is out now!

Visit our Bi Hub.

• Only one in five bi people (20 per cent) are out to all their family compared to three in five gay men and lesbians (63 per cent)

• Two in five bi people (42 per cent) hide or disguise their sexual orientation at work for fear of discrimination

• Research gives insight into the unique experience of bi people  

Stonewall, the UK’s leading charity for lesbian, gay, bi and trans equality, has released new research that shows bi people are significantly less likely to be out than gay men and lesbians, whether that’s at home, in education, at work, or as part of a faith community. The study also reveals the impact bi-erasure and biphobia has on health and well-being of bi communities.

Bi people are three times less likely than gay men and lesbians to be out to all of their family.

The report, based on YouGov polling of over 5,000 people, of whom 1,769 identified as bi, reveals that bi people are three times less likely than gay men and lesbians to be out to all of their family (20 per cent compared to 63 per cent). While one third of bi people (33 per cent) aren’t open about their sexual orientation with any of their family. 

The research also found that while two in five gay and lesbian people (44 per cent) are out to everyone at their educational institution, only one in five bi people say the same (23 per cent). Meanwhile, two in five bi people (42 per cent) have hidden or disguised that they were bi at work for fear of discrimination.

Bi people are often a forgotten part of the LGBT acronym.

Bi people are often a forgotten part of the LGBT acronym and can face ‘’double discrimination’: not only do they face abuse from straight people, but also from lesbian and gay people.  

As one respondent to Stonewall’s Bi Report said: ‘Being bisexual means finding yourself excluded by gay people and straight people in social settings. I only tell my friends about my sexuality, meaning it is hidden from my family and my work colleagues. Bisexuality is a hidden sexuality through people’s lack of acceptance.’ Kendra, 32 (Scotland) 

Stonewall research further shows how experiences of biphobic discrimination and rejection from family and friends significantly increase the risk of poor mental health for bi people. Nearly three in five bi people (59 per cent) reported experienced depression, compared to just under half of gay and lesbian people (46 per cent). Meanwhile, over one in four bi people (26 per cent) reported self-harming compared to one in ten gay and lesbian people (11 per cent). 

Nancy Kelley, Stonewall’s Chief Executive, said: ‘For the first time we have research specifically looking at what life is like for bi people in Britain. What we’ve found is that across the board biphobic stereotypes and prejudices are making life harder for bi people and, too often, their experiences of discrimination are either undermined or ignored altogether.  

‘This stops bi people in our communities from feeling able to share really important parts of their lives with those around them, hurts their mental health and gets in the way of them accessing appropriate help and support when they need it. 

‘We all need to learn more about the issues bi people face, and work harder to make sure they are welcome and supported in our schools, workplaces, and communities. It is down to all of us to tackle ignorance about bi identities, and to challenge the damaging bi-erasure and biphobia that bi people of all ages experience. 

‘We want every LGBT person to thrive and be confident about who they are. Accepting bi people without exception is essential to creating a world where everyone, everywhere is free to be themselves.’

Visit our Bi Hub.

This year the acute discrimination Black people face has been brought to the forefront.

Black LGBT people have been severely affected by the global pandemic, as well as the trauma of systemic racism, homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia experienced by the entire community. Now more than ever, we need allies to step up and take action.

We know that many people have looked to find ways to support the Black community during this time of immense pain and uncertainty. Sometimes this allyship can be positive and other times it can be misguided. Allyship is not a single step, it is an ongoing journey. It takes work, self-reflection and making that conscious decision over and over to step up until it becomes embedded in how we behave.

This Black History Month, some of Stonewall’s Black LGBT staff have discussed the most effective ways to be an active ally to Black LGBT people.

1. Listen to us

The last year has provided some much needed opportunities for Black LGBT people to be heard in spaces where they have been traditionally silenced or overlooked.

It's so important that your first step as an ally is to listen to and believe us when we tell you what we’ve experienced. Trying to ‘explain away’ racism is harmful and makes you complicit in upholding a racist system. Listen even when it is difficult to hear. It’s a lot harder for Black LGBT people to be open about their experiences. No matter how well-intentioned you thought you were, understand and accept when you have made a mistake.

It is also important that you do not take one Black LGBT person’s story as the only story. This risks allies treating us as one homogenous group. In fact, the Black LGBT community has a vast array of identities and experiences that must be recognised.

2. Do not ask Black LGBT people something you can learn yourself

We need you to listen to us, but we do not always have to be the ones supporting your education. Repeatedly explaining the realities of racism, homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia by people who actually experience it, is exhausting.

This blog and the resources on our Black History Month hub are only the beginning of your journey. There are so many great anti-racism resources that you can read and begin to learn from and grow a greater understanding and empathy for the challenges Black LGBT people face. Make sure this reading takes an intersectional approach to our experiences and are written by Black people. We would encourage you to build on this learning through discussions with other allies, so you can learn from each other.

It’s not Black LGBT people’s responsibility to relive our trauma or justify our existence. Rather than place emotional labour on your Black LGBT friends, educate yourself.

3. Recognise and use your privilege

The reality is that society is set up to benefit some people more than others. When you benefit from a certain structure or environment, you have a privilege. White people, cis people and straight people are inherently advantaged in certain ways by how society is structured, despite their own efforts, income, or background.

Acknowledging your privilege does not mean you have not worked for what you have or experienced hardship. It simply means that you have not been discriminated against due to certain aspects of your identity.

Once you can acknowledge your privilege, no matter how uncomfortable it makes you, you can use it to centre and amplify the experiences of others who may not have been afforded the same advantages as you. This can be giving up a seat on a panel to someone with a particularly underrepresented identity, or using the fact that people listen to you in meetings to insist on input from marginalised communities. It is important to consider this in all areas of your life as this will look different for everyone.

4. Speak up

Once you have done your research, you need to use your platform to speak up about the experiences of Black LGBT people. It is not enough for Black people to call things out, we need allies to speak up too.

Use your platform to educate others. Make sure you do not use your platform to speak over Black LGBT people or take credit for their work. Rather than take up space, centre Black LGBT people in the conversation. Amplify Black voices by directly sharing information created by Black LGBT people.

Be careful not to be performative in your allyship. Do not just speak up when our experiences are ‘trending’, make sure to keep up the momentum.

5. Your allyship is not inclusive if it does not include Black trans people

The lives of Black trans people were painfully overlooked this year in the Black Lives Matter movement – and always have been. This fails to highlight the higher levels of discrimination and violence that Black trans people face compared to Black cis people.

Being an ally to Black LGBT people means understanding the experiences of Black trans people in how their oppression is compounded by being Black and trans, and speaking out against transphobia.

Where you are able, support fundraisers for Black trans people’s transistions and housing needs. Black trans people suffer disproportionately from unemployment, pushing many into poverty, precarious housing situations and limiting access to essential healthcare.

6. Call it what it is. Anti-blackness

It is important to understand that racism impacts different races in different ways. Anti-blackness is a specific kind of racial prejudice towards Black people. It is inherently rooted in colonialism, the legacy of slavery, and eugenics. 

Racist attempts to 'rank' races in order of value or worthiness have consistently placed Black people at the bottom, leading to a normalisation of anti-black across many cultures. While non-black people of colour often experience racism, anti-blackness can still be rampant in those communities that have a history of perceiving themselves as superior to Black people.

By acknowledging that the experiences Black LGBT people face are anti-black, and that racial discrimination can disproportionately affect Black people, we can take a step towards dismantling white supremacy.

7. Use the right language

Terms such as BAME (Black, Asian and minority ethnic) and PoC (people of colour) offer a limited and simplified understanding of race, often holding white people as the norm, and maintaining a eurocentric view of the world. They can suggest a homogenised experience for all people who aren’t white, when this is a dangerous oversimplification of reality. Within these communities, colourism and misogynoir are common experiences, and it's important to acknowledge that there are varying experiences caused by differing levels of privilege across these communities. Acknowledging and discussing uniquely Black experiences as those specific to the community, allows us to understand the particular steps and actions we need to take to drive forward tangible change.

If you find yourself needing to describe an individual’s race or ethnicity, and you know that they describe themselves as Black, Latinx or Brown – to name but a few – always use those terms rather than contentious umbrella terms.

8. Showcase Black LGBT people

We cannot overstate the importance of seeing yourself in positions of power in areas like the workplace, media, and education. It is validating, inspiring, and proves that people who look like you can achieve success in those areas.

In your workplaces, consider making D&I targets that do not just cover BAME, but also Black people explicitly. Not only are you supporting Black LGBT people in employment, but having our perspectives in decision making rooms only benefits your projects and external outputs. In fact, Forbes found in 2017 that diverse teams make better decisions in the workplace 87% of the time. However, in your effort to include Black LGBT people, take care not to fall into tokenistic practices. For instance, do not recruit Black people to positions of power but retain the authority or simply use them to excuse your organisation’s own racist and discriminatory behaviour.

The importance of Black LGBT representation in the media is vital, but it is important to consider who is creating the content. So often stories about Black people and Black LGBT people are full of hurtful stereotypes and misconceptions where Black LGBT people are reduced to only parts of their identity. Consider the opportunities you have access to, which perhaps Black LGBT creators cannot access, and how you share them. If you can’t tell Black LGBT stories right, then let Black LGBT people tell them.

9. Create spaces that are inclusive of Black LGBT people

Too often Black LGBT people must access spaces, especially LGBT spaces that claim to be safe, that perpetuate anti-blackness. Challenge racism vocally and ensure that your spaces do not perpetuate barriers to inclusion for Black LGBT people. Think about the touchpoints and obstacles where you are. Do they prevent people from accessing that space?

10. Support Black-owned businesses and fundraisers

Many Black LGBT people are simply not afforded the same opportunities as white people, and can suffer numerous inequalities in areas of housing, employment, healthcare, and education to name a few.

By supporting Black-owned businesses as part of your day-to-day purchases, you can support the community and help to begin to bridge these gaps.

For a lot of Black businesses likely to be smaller with less access to funding, supporting them will not only better them financially but provide opportunities to employ more Black people, provide more access to specific services that Black people need, and uplift the community.

This year’s Disability Awareness Month runs from 18 November until 18 December 2020.

The theme is around Access: How far have we come? How far do we have to go? If you generally have access to stuff (like the physical environment around you, transport options, information and communication, services, and so on) then this is probably something you’ve never thought about consciously. But if, like me, you only have access to a lot of these things because of being efficient at hiding your identity, the whole subject becomes a lot more complicated.

Let me explain. I have a condition called Beale’s syndrome, which is related to Marfan’s syndrome – a genetic disorder that affects the connective tissues that hold all of the body’s cells, organs and tissues together. Simply put, my body does not produce enough of the protein needed for connective tissues in my body. This is most prevalent in my finger joints, which resulted in me being born with my fingers curled in towards the palm and unable to stretch out.

It’s a very odd feeling to realise that the only reason I’ve not been more impacted by my condition is because I had access to the right surgery, courtesy of the NHS. This surgery involved my hand tissue and joints being reconstructed, and helped me to gain about 80% of the movement in my fingers. As a result, I’ve got really, really effective at ‘hiding’ my condition.

It helps that unless you’ve sat with me for a while and paid very close attention to how my fingers never quite leave a ‘claw’ shape, you would never really guess that I had a disability. But I still try to hide my condition as much as possible. I use pointers in my presentations to avoid using my hands, and my penchant for fingerless gloves means I can hide the surgery scars that decorate my fingers.

In the same way, many people wouldn’t really guess that I was queer, which I use as a label for myself. I don’t hit a lot of the stereotypes that exist around LGBTQIA+ people – and even if I did, that shouldn’t be a negative thing. Plus, because my partner is a straight, cis man, I often get mistaken for not being part of the community. Depending on the circumstances, I would say I’m more confident at being ‘out’ as queer, rather than ‘out’ as disabled, but that’s probably just because I work for a big LGBT rights charity and have that as a bit of security.

I often find that my access to spaces and opportunities depends a lot on how effectively I can hide these different aspects of my identity. For example, a lot of the spaces that my family occupies require me to hide my queer identity. In mainstream LGBTQIA+ spaces, disabled folks are often deliberately excluded, because it is seen as impossible for someone who is disabled to engage in romantic and/or sexual relationships. On top of that, ableism and queerphobia often go hand in hand. We see this everywhere: from the media we consume all our lives, to the medical-based and pathologised ways we have spoken about these identities until recently.

A lot of folk, especially disabled folks, may not have even their basic human rights respected.

Understanding that these two communities share struggles is vital if we are to make equal rights a reality for everyone. It’s also worth remembering that a lot of folk, especially disabled folks, may not have even their basic human rights respected. LGBTQIA+ organisations need to ensure that they support disabled service users and supporters, and organisations that work with disabled people need to be aware that some of the folks they support will also be LGBTQIA+. It’s tough to change our practices, but if we’re going to truly embody the values that make us proud, we need to make sure that we tackle all discrimination and stigma of identities.

Understanding that these two communities share struggles is vital if we are to make equal rights a reality for everyone.

As a first step on this journey, we must amplify the voices of those who have been historically underrepresented in our communities and who are, even now, marginalised by our structures and systems – whether economic, societal, or inter-personal. We must also work together to remove the systemic barriers that prevent folks getting what they need for a good life. Maybe then, people like me will be able to enter any space without hiding vital parts of their identity.

Visit Stonewall's Disability Hub.