Methodology
This project employed a self-selection sampling methodology using an online survey, which was disseminated via social media channels, and distributed to various groups and organisations through flyers and a conference, as well as at Pride events.
The survey asked both quantitative and ‘multiple choice’ questions, and for qualitative written answers.
Quantitative data, such as demographic information, was assessed as a means of contextualising qualitative data.
Analysis employed mixed methods, using quantitative and qualitative thematic analysis.
All written responses were thematically grouped (coded). All thematically grouped qualitative data was further analysed and written up throughout the report.
Respondent demographics and key quantitative findings:
Number of respondents by age
- Under 18 years: 3
- 18 to 24 years: 10
- 25 to 34 years: 44
- 35 to 44 years: 36
- 45 to 54 years: 33
- 55 to 64 years: 27
- 65 to 74 years: 15
- Over 74 years: 1
- No answer: 4
Total number of respondents[4] : 197[5]
Age (169 respondents): Between 18 and over 75
Location type (170 respondents)
Over half of respondents were from an urban area.
- Urban: 59%
- Semi-urban: 18%
- Semi-rural: 13%
- Rural: 10%
Ethnic identity (168 respondents)
Over 90% (92.8%) of respondents were white.
- White Scottish: 49.4%
- White British: 31.5%
- Any other ethnic group: 4.2%
- Caribbean: 1.2%
- Indian/Indian Scottish: 1.2%
- African: 0.6%
- White Irish: 2.4%
- Any other White ethnic group: 9.5%
Sexual/romantic orientation (168 respondents)
- Gay: 20.8%
- Asexual: 1.8%
- Pansexual: 10.1%
- Bi: 23.2%
- Lesbian: 26.2%
- Other (find explanation below this list): 16.1%
- Heterosexual: 1.8%
‘Other’: Our understanding of sexual and romantic orientation is still evolving, and multiple-choice survey questions do not always represent the full spectrum of how LGBTQIA+ people identify.
‘Other’ sexual/romantic orientations respondents reported included (but were not limited to):
- Queer (8 respondents)
- Questioning (3 respondents)
- Bi & Demi
- Demisexual, prefer penises
- Attracted to women and trans‑feminine non‑binary folks
Gender[6] (171 respondents)
- Woman: 53.2%
- Non-Binary: 14%
- Man: 23.4%
- Other: 9.4%
Like sexual/romantic orientation, gender and gender expression are rich spectrums that are not fixed or easily captured in a multiple- choice survey format.
‘Other’ gender identifications respondents reported included (but were not limited to):
- Agender (2 respondents)
- Transgender woman (2 respondents)
- Genderqueer
- Autigender female
- Still figuring that out
Trans status (169 respondents)
Do you consider yourself to be trans or to have a trans history?
- No: 66.8%
- Yes: 32%
- Other: 1.2%
Those who answered ‘Other’ (2 respondents) answered this question with ‘Genderqueer’ and ‘Kind of’.
I/VSC status[7] (170 respondents)
Do you have a variation in sex characteristics or consider yourself to be intersex?
- Yes: 4.7%
- No: 95.3%
Disability and mental health
We did not ask directly whether respondents were disabled. However, it is worth noting the ‘unseen statistic’ that became evident – a significant number of people responding to this survey made some mention of mental illness or mental health struggles (either their own or a loved one’s), and a notable minority mentioned that they were disabled and/ or lived with chronic health conditions.
Footnotes:
- Participation in this survey was unusually low compared to past surveys conducted by Equality Network with similar scope. This can be explained by several likely causes: 1. At its outset, this survey was open only to lesbian and bi respondents; 2. During the time period in which the survey was open, the LGBTI+ community was experiencing a particularly high degree of data solicitation, potentially leading to ‘survey fatigue’. (Back to content.)
- This number does not include survey responses that did not meet the scope of the survey, for example those submitted from outside the UK, as well as responses that were unreadable or blatantly submitted in bad faith (i.e. using abusive or otherwise discriminatory language). (Back to content.)
- There is likely a higher percentage of women represented here as this survey was originally only open to LB+ women ahead of the Lesbian Lives Conference in Cork, Ireland in 2022 where Equality Network presented initial findings as part of a workshop. This meant that the survey was open to LB+ women longer than the rest of the community. (Back to content.)
- I/VSC refers to ‘Intersex / Variations in sex characteristics.’ This is an umbrella term used for people who are born with variations in biological sex characteristics – this may mean that they have bodies which do not always fit society’s perception of typically male or female. This is sometimes referred to as DSD (differences of sex development), but many dislike this term. I/VSC is not the same as gender identity (our sense of self) or sexual orientation (who we are attracted to), but it is about the physical body we are born with. When you see ‘I’ in the LGBTI+ acronym we are referring to people who are intersex or who have a variation in sex characteristics.
(Back to content.)
