A new Stonewall report on LGBTQ+ life in the UK paints a mixed picture: many people see greater acceptance than a decade ago, yet worries about equality, safety and services remain widespread. Based on almost 3,500 adults, the findings also show that trans+ people often face sharper challenges, making the report an important measure of where progress is still falling short.

Essential takeaways

  • A mixed view of progress: 48% of LGBTQ+ respondents felt acceptance had improved over the past decade, but only 26% of trans respondents agreed.
  • Trust remains low: 23% said they trusted state institutions to protect LGBTQ+ rights, while 50% said they did not.
  • Safety is a concern: Just under one in five LGBTQ+ people who experienced a hate incident in the previous year reported it to police.
  • Healthcare gaps persist: 33% of trans+ respondents said they had struggled to access healthcare because of their gender identity.
  • Future security feels uncertain: 55% lacked confidence in their financial security in retirement.

Stonewall's report finds progress, but not reassurance

The figures in Stonewall's new LGBTQ+ life in the UK report make for an uneasy read. Nearly half of respondents thought acceptance had improved over the past ten years, but half were pessimistic about the direction of equality. Among trans+ respondents, pessimism rose to 80%, showing how unevenly progress is being felt. [2], [3]

The report, published on 30 October, draws on responses from almost 3,500 LGBTQ+ adults across the UK, with most participants based in England and Scotland. It examines six areas: equality, belonging, safety, health, work and the future. Stonewall describes the findings as a picture of both change and continuing barriers. [2], [3], [4]

That contrast matters. Same-sex marriage was named by one in five respondents as the biggest improvement in LGBTQ+ equality over the past decade, while only 23% said they trusted state institutions to protect their rights. Half said they distrusted them. [3], [5]

Belonging is stronger with friends and family

Some of the report's more encouraging figures concern close relationships. Among LGB+ respondents, 67% said they were open about their sexual orientation with family, compared with 88% who were open with friends. Acceptance was also high: 93% felt accepted by family and 99% by friends. [3], [5]

Trans+ respondents reported lower, though still substantial, levels of openness and acceptance. Just over half were open about their gender identity with family, while 85% were open with friends. Family acceptance stood at 86%, compared with 95% among friends. The difference is a reminder that feeling at home in one circle doesn't always mean feeling understood everywhere. [3], [5]

Safety concerns extend from public spaces to online life

The report found that 7% of LGBTQ+ respondents had been questioned about their sex assigned at birth while using single-sex spaces. The figure was notably higher for some groups, including 41% of trans men and 11% of lesbians. Stonewall's findings also come amid debate over guidance on single-sex spaces issued by the Equality and Human Rights Commission. [3], [5]

Reporting abuse can be difficult, too. Of those who had experienced a hate incident in the previous year, 18% reported it to police; among those who did, 54% were dissatisfied with the response. Online abuse was another prominent concern, with 64% of trans+ respondents saying they had experienced transphobic abuse online in the previous month. [3], [5], [6]

For anyone reporting a hate incident, Stonewall provides information on what hate crime can involve and where to seek support. Keeping a record of what happened, when and where may also help when deciding whether to report it. [6]

Healthcare and work still ask people to weigh up openness

One in five LGBTQ+ respondents said they were not very open or not open at all about their identity with healthcare professionals. While 18% of LGB+ respondents felt healthcare staff lacked understanding of their needs, that proportion rose to 39% among trans+ respondents. A third of trans+ people also said they had struggled to access healthcare because of their gender identity. [3], [5]

Workplaces present a similar calculation around visibility and comfort. Over the previous year, 30% of LGB+ respondents and 46% of trans+ respondents had hidden or disguised their identity at work. For employers, that is a practical signal: inclusive policies matter, but so does whether people feel safe using them in everyday working life. [3], [5]

Retirement and later life need more attention

Looking ahead, financial security appears uncertain for many respondents. More than half, or 55%, lacked confidence about being financially secure in retirement. Only 33% felt confident that care providers would understand LGBTQ+ needs in older age, falling to 18% among trans+ respondents. [3], [5]

These concerns sit alongside the report's findings on mental health: 54% of LGBTQ+ respondents had considered suicide, and 22% had attempted it. Among trans+ respondents, the figures were 71% and 32% respectively. These are serious findings, and anyone in immediate distress should contact emergency services or a crisis support service in their area. [3], [5], [7]

Stonewall chief executive Simon Blake said the findings should prompt action on trust, safety and access to services. The report can't explain every individual experience, but it does make one point hard to miss: progress is real for some, while far too many still don't feel secure or understood. [2], [3]

Small improvements in how services listen, respond and include people can make a meaningful difference.

Source Reference Map

Story idea inspired by: [1]

Sources by paragraph: