Census reveals LGBT figures

The number of adults identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual and other in England and Wales stands at just 3.16 per cent of the adult population according to newly released census figures.

The ONS has also collected information on gender identity for the first time. The census recorded 0.5 per cent (262,000) of the population of England and Wales identifying as transgender, ‘non-binary’ or ‘other’.

However, since the Gender Recognition Act came into effect in 2005, fewer than 7,000 certificates have been granted.

Metropolitan areas

In its report, the ONS mapped the population density of different identity groups across the country.

It revealed that those identifying as LGB and ‘other’ are more likely to live in urban metropolitan areas, in particular Brighton, London and Manchester, or university cities, with Lincoln, Bristol, Oxford, Cambridge and Norwich among the most densely populated areas.

Adults identifying as transgender or non-binary were also much more likely to live in university cities or other metropolitan areas than in rural areas.

Over-representation

The Christian Institute’s Ciarán Kelly commented: “The census is an important tool to help us better understand the demographics of our country and contrary to what the media would have us believe, these figures indicate that the numbers of people identifying as LGBT actually remain very small.

“Yet activists are pushing for increasingly liberal laws regarding sexual ethics and gender, particularly in looking to make it much easier for people to change their legal sex and outlaw ordinary church activities under the guise of a ‘conversion therapy’ ban. They are also doing their utmost to promote LGBT lifestyles in schools.

“While LGB relationships and transgenderism are heavily promoted by the media, particularly on television where LGBT people are vastly over-represented, this has not resulted in more people ‘coming out’.”

In 2017, a freedom of information request, seen by The Christian Institute, revealed that 11.5 per cent of BBC bosses and 10.6 per cent of staff were lesbian, gay, bisexual or transsexual.