One in 10 Young Adults in UK Identify as Lesbian, Gay or Bisexual – ONS

THE GUARDIAN: Stonewall CEO says data should be ‘wake-up call’ to organisations rolling back on LGBTQ+ rights

Around one in 10 young adults in the UK identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual (LGB), a proportion of the population which has doubled in the past five years, according to figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS).

Just over 10% of 16 to 24-year-olds identified as LGB in 2023 – the most recent window polled – up from 4.4% in 2018, according to data from the Annual Population Survey. The largest rise came among young women, with 9.2% of women aged 16-24 identifying as bisexual, compared with 5.9% of males.

Simon Blake, the chief executive of LGBTQ+ charity Stonewall said the data should be “a wake-up call to organisations and governments who are rolling back on their commitments to LGBTQ+ rights and inclusion”.

“Lesbian, gay and bisexual people are a growing part of UK society, with more LGB young people than ever before,” he said. “The more than one in 10 of 16-24 year-olds identifying as LGB will be a crucial part of our workplaces, politics and lives. They will have colleagues, friends and families who support them, and they will deserve – and demand – equal rights and opportunities.” » | Alexandra Topping | Wednesday, January 29, 2025

Being attracted to someone of the same sex is one of the most normal things in the world. I don’t know what all the bloody fuss is about. People have been attracted to people of the same sex since the beginning of time. And people will go on being attracted to people of the same sex until the end of time. It is high time that people grew up and accepted human nature. We cannot fight human nature any more than we can influence tomorrow’s weather. And for those who believe in a god, if God truly does exist, and if He truly is omnipotent as we are told to believe, then, if same-sex attraction is contrary to His will, He wouldn’t have created same-sex attracted people in the first place. Surely, it is as simple as that! People make such a fuss about inconsequential matters! To each his own! Whatever floats your boat! – © Mark Alexander