The document summarizes key findings from a survey of 362 LGBT and transgender individuals in the South West of England. It discusses issues around health and well-being, safety and security, visibility and self-expression, knowledge and influence, and opportunities and standard of living. Key messages highlighted include the need for improved cultural competency training for healthcare providers, policies to address bullying and harassment, and efforts to increase understanding and dispel myths about the LGBT community.

1. LGBT isolation:
Transforming rural England?
Brenda Weston
Equality South West

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3. Why the PP&T survey?
Wanted to identify the real issues for LGB and
Trans people in the South West of
England:
 Highlight issues specific to ‘sub-groups’ as well as
those common to all
 Bring the voices of contributors directly to readers
 Assist LGB and Trans ‘equality-proofed’ policy making
 Support LGB and Trans groups to influence and
challenge local policy-making
 Stimulate debate and further research ...

4. How did we do it?
 Joint advisory group: LGB, Trans + ESW
 Qs based around ‘ten dimensions of equality’
 Anonymous
 Emphasis on open-ended questions
 Electronic + strategically placed hard copies
 Launched through ESW e-bulletin
 Open Jan – July 2010

5. 362 contributors
 Gender
• 47% female
6% MtF Trans
• 43% male
4% FtM Trans
 Sexuality: L 34%; G 41%; B 14% (other 11%)
 Age range: youngest, 14; oldest 87
 Disabilities: 23% self-identified
 Race: 21 BME respondents
 Religion/belief: 86 identified a religion or belief

6. 362 contributors
 55% live in cities or large towns
 ... across 30 local authority areas
 Housing: 52% owned; 29% private rent; 6% social
15% no tenure
 Relationships:





17% civil partners
34% single
39% in a relationship
28% biological parents or in a parental role
7% married
 Income: majority under £25k (largest grp £15-20K)

7. Health and well-being: key findings
 Childhood homo/transphobia - impact on adult
health and well-being
 Top health concerns: mental and sexual health
 Key health care issues
 Practitioners lack of knowledge/awareness
 Prejudice can lead to unnecessary health risks
 Different health/care issues affect sub-groups
 Ageing – Anxieties around care and support in
heterosexist care environments

8. Health and well-being: messages
 All providers – including voluntary sector - publicise LGB
and Trans inclusiveness
 All staff and volunteers - awareness training and
respect in practice
 GPs - attitudes and clinical knowledge key: LGB and
Trans surgery-based specialists?
 Health & social care & supported housing
providers - need to understand complexities of LGB and
Trans ageing
 Mental health services - more counselling, more timely
and more LGB and Trans aware
 All providers - monitor sexual/gender identities

9. Health and well-being: Voices
 “It has to start with kids and schools. I've suffered from severe
depression since an early age and have contemplated suicide since I
was a little boy...”
 “...staff not accepting that I should be with my civil partner during
discussions with a doctor immediately prior to a procedure...”
 “Access to gay friendly GP practice & able to choose woman GP
when I need to...”
 “...advice based on knowledge, experience and current research, not
an antiquated chapter on 'gender dysfunction' read by GP in 1978 ..”
 “... it will not be too long before I will need residential/similar care - I
do not think the providers are geared up to this.”
 “More varied counselling services - particularly more counsellors with
a positive attitude to LGBT.”

10. Safety and security: findings
 Experiences of homophobic/transphobic incidents in the
past two years - 68% had not reported to anyone
 11% in school, college, university or in the workplace
 16% in their local area after dark
 12% in their local area in day time
 Domestic violence – Over 80% had not reported to
anyone

19% had experienced violence from parents/ guardians

26% from intimate partners

8% from other family members

2% from own or other children in the household
 Ongoing, low-level homophobic abuse creates a climate
of fear.

11. Safety & security: Messages
 Responsible bodies (police, employers, unions) must make it
easy to report, and address homophobic/transphobic
incidents
 School, colleges and workplaces must create safe and
supportive (zero tolerance) environments for LGB and Trans
people, with clear reporting and enforcement procedures
 Victim support agencies need to publicise their services
better, and publicly welcome LGB and Trans people,
especially in relation to abuse in the home
 Housing providers need to understand the effects of
persistent neighbour abuse and enforce tenancy conditions
 Mass media outlets should help raise public awareness
through fair media representation of LGB and Trans people

12. Safety & security: Voices
 “My employer did not feel that the homophobic abuse I was subject
to (...homophobic language, exclusion from social activities, open
expression of homophobic attitudes etc) was homophobia”.
 “Teachers would not take me seriously, and no idea how to report...”
 “They just could not imagine or really deal with how I could be
feeling as they were uneducated in Trans issues. I felt unheard,
pacified and patronised.” (following an assault)
 (Attacked) “a number of years ago. Did not tell police ... as did not
trust them... things have changed and I would tell them now.”
 “I was hospitalised following a severe assault, which included sexual
assault, in a park on my way home from work.”
 “By tackling homophobia more - it would be great to think that it was
ok to hug my partner in public like other couples can.”

13. Visibility, dignity, self-expression:
findings
 Family reactions are fundamental and crucial
 Schools, colleges have a key exemplary/supportive role
 LGB and T people want to be a visible part of society
 The media distort perceptions of LGB and Trans people’s lives: do
not reflect the ‘ordinariness’
 Depression and other mental health effects from prejudice is a multiagency concern
 Poor workplace equality practices can cost us all
 Some ‘gay’ venues and LGB and Trans organisations are less
welcoming than ‘mainstream’ ones
 Things have improved, including (many of) the police ...

14. Visibility, dignity, self-expression:
Messages
 Better information, support and advice for families and LGB and
Trans children
 All public bodies to actively promote LGB and Trans equality and
eliminate discrimination
 Consulting and involving LGB and Trans people key
 Media to take responsibility for the attitudes they foster – and their
consequences
 Schools to ensure all staff are LGB and Trans aware, willing &
equipped to deal with incidents
 Health staff to ensure patients feel safe to discuss LGB and Trans
identity-related issues

15. Visibility, dignity, self-expression:
Voices
 “...The worst prejudice has come from religious friends and
relatives.”
 “The biggest problem I face is assumption of
heterosexuality.”
 “I was continually called names at work and physically
assaulted, but was not backed up by the management,
leading to a mental breakdown and ill-health retirement.”
 “the police have been great...friendly reassuring helpful”
 “… schools/colleges/universities etc. need to have training
on equality and diversity.”
 “The people who most need to change are the media.”

16. Knowledge, voice, influence:
Findings
 30% ‘Very aware’ of equality protections; 22% had ‘Very
little knowledge’
 63% did not know where to get advice on rights
 Mixed views on whether/how identity affects opportunities
to influence local decision making
 Anticipated prejudice affects civic and voluntary activity
 Diversity of methods, anonymity, and trust are key to
effective consultation and complaints feedback
 More active voters than general population: voting strongly
influenced by party attitudes to diversity.

17. Knowledge, voice, influence:
Messages
 Schools: homophobic/transphobic bullying policies
clearly explained and effectively enforced
 Councils and other public bodies:
 Properly implement PSED (including through grant giving to
VCS organisations)
 Make consultations/complaints accessible/targeted/responsive
 Include sexual/gender identity question in surveys/consultations
 Involve LGB&T people directly at policy formulation stage
 Publicise diversity/LGB and Trans friendly culture and policies
 VCS: ensure staff/volunteers understand/fulfil PSED
 Employers: act on business case for inclusive
workplaces

18. Knowledge, voice, influence:
Voices
 “Schools need far more openness and tools to address ...
homophobic bullying, abuse and discrimination.”
 “I feel happier writing an email (complaint), a computer feels less
judgemental.”
 “Ask me about my sexual identity...not just my gender.”
 “You’re gay – you’re suspect. This is deep in the psyche. The facts
should be made paramount to allay prejudice.”
 “When sending through information they could do more to say that
homophobia will not be tolerated...”
 “I want to be a teacher and I am worried that my homosexuality may
be something that holds me back...”

“I do feel restricted in what form of voluntary work I seek to
undertake particularly where it involves children, older people or
religious groups

19. Opportunities and standard of
living: Findings
 Three main factors were associated with a good quality of life: choice
in housing; ability to be themselves on holiday; ability to be open
about relationships.
 22% believe their sexual/gender identity negatively affects their
earning power; 8% believe the reverse.
 13% were self-employed (this mirrors the % overall for the SW)
 Slightly more felt their LGB or Trans identity has a positive than a
negative effect on intellectual, skills and creative development
 Myths about LGB and Trans people, and fear of prejudice deter
involvement in paid and unpaid work with children, limiting the pool of
volunteers and professionals available to contribute.
 Trans people’s opportunities are particularly restricted in all key areas

20. Opportunities and standard of
living: Messages
 Leisure and tourism businesses: would benefit from
declaring themselves LGB and Trans inclusive
 Police: Need to take seriously homophobic/transphobic
incidents which undermine LGB and Trans people’s
human rights
 Social housing staff: Need to understand the impact of
homophobic neighbour harassment on LGB and Trans
tenants and take firm action
 Government, public bodies and media: need to work to
dispel the myth linking LGB and Trans identity with
abuse of children.

21. Opportunities and standard of
living: Voices
 “I am in the closet at work and in the community at large as I fear
negative reactions.”
 “I myself know of many closeted primary school teachers who fear
the impact disclosing their sexuality will have on parents of children
in their care.”
 “How you are perceived (outwardly) affects where you live, where
you go, choices you make.”
 “Being trans can attract unwanted attention and make your life more
difficult. You can be seen as a threat ... or simply mocked.”
 “Simple things like holding hands in public is still seen as taboo or
worse seen as a political expression rather than one of affection.”
 “Being in rental accommodation often means I don't feel able to be
fully open about my sexuality e.g. having my partner staying over
occasionally...”