Is The UK LGBTQ Friendly? Not According to The Latest LGBT UK Data

The UK used to be one of the most LGBT friendly places in Europe, but things have changed. Now if you’re planning a visit, the LGBT UK scene is much different. Keep reading to get the latest data breakdown on LGBTQ rights, homophobia and bias incidents across the UK, but just in LGBTQ London, and what it means for your trip.

St Paul's Cathedral on a sunny day, with orange and yellow foliage in front.

LGBT UK Bias and Discrimination: How Bad Is It?

Scotland just dropped a new government report, and the numbers on LGBT UK rights are an absolute disgrace. One in four gay, lesbian, or bisexual Scots faced discrimination last year. One in seven LGBT Scots were harassed last year. Meanwhile, rates of discrimination and harassment for the general population are sitting at a smug 7% and 4%.

(If you’re curious, the figures are similar for Wales).

No surprise here, the picture is even bleaker for trans and non-binary folks. By some estimates, up to half of trans people in Scotland face harassment or discrimination. That’s half of a population that makes up just 0.4% of Scotland’s census—hardly enough people to justify JK’s moral panic.

I’ll be honest, I was surprised LGBTQ bias in Scotland was so high. I tend to think about Scottish independence and figure, well if they want to be free, they probably want all Scots to be free…

man and woman talking on gray concrete bridge

Sadly, no.

The UK enjoys a reputation as being LGBTQ friendly – but according to the data, LGBTQ discrimination is on the rise.

Gallup research from 2016, 4 in 5 LGBTQ people in the UK experienced a hate crime – but only 1 in 4 felt it was worth reporting to police.

Even serious crimes went unreported as LGBTQ Brits figured, ‘stuff like this happens all the time.’

I’m all for finding resolving conflicts without police – but keeping mum and carrying on when you’re harassed and bullied for being perceived to be queer or trans isn’t a solution.

Over half of trans survey respondents and over three quarters of nonbinary survey respondents avoid expressing their true selves.

Based on those figures, I wouldn’t call the UK LGBTQ friendly.

White man putting his right hand on another man's shoulder in LGBT UK street photography.

Which UK Cities Are The Most LGBT Friendly?

The LGBT UK data is depressing, but it covers the entire nation.

Surely things are different in the big cities, like London.

Yes and no. Survey respondents said they felt safer in large cities with significant LGBT populations. Cities like London, Brighton and Manchester.

But even in those cities, freedom had its limit. LGBT UK residents said they still did not feel like they could be their full selves, even in LGBT London.

Two-thirds of LGBT UK residents said that they move through daily life hiding their queerness. For example, they actively avoid holding hands with a same-sex partner in public places out of fear of a negative reaction, according to the UK’s National LGBT Survey.

I know the UK can do better. Because they’ve done better in the past.

Historically, the United Kingdom ranked somewhere in the top 10 countries when it came to LGBTQ rights.

Now, they’re at #28 – behind the increasingly-unequal US and European countries such as France, Belgium, Austria and Portugal.

Cyclist biking by a rainbow colored mural that says I Don't Like

LGBT UK: My Experience in LGBT London

I visited London a couple of years ago. I found it welcoming, but I was traveling with my wife and my mom and this provided a buffer from any harassment my wife and I would have experienced alone.

We did have a day alone at the end of our trip, before we headed off to Iceland.

We took an awesome mural tour of Shoreditch and ate yummy Indian food, and headed off to gawk at the auroras and find our bliss in hot tubs.

I had no problems, in other words.

But I’ll close with a reminder of why it’s important to track changing attitudes toward LGBTQ rights in places we think of as friendly whether it’s the US or the UK.

When travelers don’t find the acceptance and welcome they expect in a place they believe is LGBTQ friendly, it can throw cold water on our vacation.

Suddenly, we’re not sure if we should hold hand with a partner, celebrate a romantic milestone, or wear that affirming shirt we bought.

We start to doubt ourselves or close ourselves off from connecting with people.

That sense of joy and possibility that travel makes possible can start to seem like it’s not for us, if we let our true selves be seen.

When the truth is, people make bigoted comments toward LGBTQ because they see our sparkle and they’re threatened by it.

Three men celebrating LGBTQ pride with colorful attire and rainbow face paint under an umbrella

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