A census of England and Wales, conducted in March 2022, has for the first time given information on the LGBT+ population in the two nations. Not only does this provide statistics on the size of the LGBT+ community across England and Wales, but also shows which towns and cities have the biggest LGBT+ populations.
Out of a combined population of 59.6 million, the Office for National Statistics stated that 1.5% of those aged 16 and over identified as gay or lesbian, with a further 1.3% identifying as bisexual. In real terms, this means that there are approximately 1.3 million LGB people in England and Wales. When including “other” sexualities, for example, those identifying as asexual, the number is increased to just over 1.5 million.
Unsurprisingly, cities such as London and Manchester had the largest LGBT+ populations out of all areas in the UK, with Brighton and Hove topping the table with 10.7% of the local population identifying as LGB+. In Wales, Cardiff was the most LGBT+ populous, with 5.3% of the city’s residents classing themselves as LGB+.
About the English and Welsh transgender population, only 0.5% of respondents said that their gender identity was different from the one they were assigned at birth. This results in just 262,000 people being openly transgender across the two nations.
The government released these statistics to provide information regarding inequality and discrimination faced by those of a different sexuality or gender. As a result, they hope to improve the position of LGB+ people in the realms of health and social care, employment rights, and education access, amongst other things.
LGBT+ charities and advocates have welcomed this new step, with Stonewall Cymru saying that this provides more than just “estimates” about the “needs and experiences of [the LGBT+] community”.
The figures provided by the 2022 census are not accurate, with 3.6 million people not answering questions on sexual orientation and a further 2.9 million being unwilling to disclose their gender identity, but it nonetheless provides what LGBT+ data expert Dr. Kevin Guyan described as a “landmark moment for inclusion” which will be the first step in “a longer project of change”.
2022 marked 50 years since the UK’s first Pride March, which occurred on 1st July 1972. Since then, the age of consent has been aligned with that of heterosexual people, gay marriage has been introduced, and LGBT+ couples are allowed to adopt children. The counting of the LGBT+ community in the 2022 census, then, represents another step towards sexual and gender equality in the UK which will be continued in the Scottish census due next year.
The visibility of the LGBT+ community within the English and Welsh census will of course mean nothing unless the promises of action based on the ONS’ findings are realised. It is a step in the right direction, therefore, but is equally symbolic of not only how far we have come, but of how far we have left to go.
Cover image available from NPR
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