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| Bisexuality more visible but 'work to do' on safety | Bisexuality more visible but 'work to do' on safety |
| (4 months later) | |
| Dr Julia Shaw says it can be "frustrating" that many people do not know what being bisexual means | Dr Julia Shaw says it can be "frustrating" that many people do not know what being bisexual means |
| More people identify as bisexual than gay or lesbian, a new study suggests. | More people identify as bisexual than gay or lesbian, a new study suggests. |
| The poll says bisexuality is the next-most-common identity after being heterosexual. | The poll says bisexuality is the next-most-common identity after being heterosexual. |
| Survey respondents from Generation Z - those aged 16 to 26 - are least likely to identify as straight. | Survey respondents from Generation Z - those aged 16 to 26 - are least likely to identify as straight. |
| LGBT charity, Stonewall, which commissioned the study, said the findings told a "positive story" but said more needed to be done to help bisexual people feel safe. | LGBT charity, Stonewall, which commissioned the study, said the findings told a "positive story" but said more needed to be done to help bisexual people feel safe. |
| The study asked 16 to 75-year-olds questions about their gender identity, sexual orientation and attraction. | The study asked 16 to 75-year-olds questions about their gender identity, sexual orientation and attraction. |
| Three polls were carried out through the market researcher, Ipsos Mori, in June, which is Pride Month, and August 2022, each with a representative sample of about 2,000 people across England, Wales and Scotland. | Three polls were carried out through the market researcher, Ipsos Mori, in June, which is Pride Month, and August 2022, each with a representative sample of about 2,000 people across England, Wales and Scotland. |
| When asked which label they identify as, 84% of all respondents said they are straight, compared with 5% bisexual, and 4% gay or lesbian. | When asked which label they identify as, 84% of all respondents said they are straight, compared with 5% bisexual, and 4% gay or lesbian. |
| The answers varied depending on people's age. Some 10% of Gen Z respondents said they were bisexual compared with 2% of baby boomers (those aged 56 to 75). | The answers varied depending on people's age. Some 10% of Gen Z respondents said they were bisexual compared with 2% of baby boomers (those aged 56 to 75). |
| 'It's not being half gay, half straight' | 'It's not being half gay, half straight' |
| Dr Julia Shaw, a psychologist and author of the book, Bi: The Hidden Culture, History and Science of Bisexuality, says it can be "frustrating" that many people do not know what being bisexual means. | Dr Julia Shaw, a psychologist and author of the book, Bi: The Hidden Culture, History and Science of Bisexuality, says it can be "frustrating" that many people do not know what being bisexual means. |
| "It can make you fall into situations where you experience biphobia and negative comments about 'oh, what does that mean? You're promiscuous? Or you can't be monogamous?'" she says. | "It can make you fall into situations where you experience biphobia and negative comments about 'oh, what does that mean? You're promiscuous? Or you can't be monogamous?'" she says. |
| "Bisexuality is a real identity, it's not being half gay, half straight." | "Bisexuality is a real identity, it's not being half gay, half straight." |
| She says trends over the past decade all point towards bisexual people being the largest "sexual minority" but that many people are not aware of how widespread bisexuality is. | She says trends over the past decade all point towards bisexual people being the largest "sexual minority" but that many people are not aware of how widespread bisexuality is. |
| Fewer people surveyed by Stonewall said they had met someone who is bisexual than someone who is gay or lesbian. | Fewer people surveyed by Stonewall said they had met someone who is bisexual than someone who is gay or lesbian. |
| Here's what LGBTQQIAAP stands for | Here's what LGBTQQIAAP stands for |
| Disability and dating: 'I didn’t know what bisexual was' | Disability and dating: 'I didn’t know what bisexual was' |
| Generation Z has different attitudes to sexuality | Generation Z has different attitudes to sexuality |
| Although the findings show that younger groups seem to be more open to same-sex attraction, the apparent shift in attitudes may also be giving other generations more confidence. | Although the findings show that younger groups seem to be more open to same-sex attraction, the apparent shift in attitudes may also be giving other generations more confidence. |
| John, 49, came out as bisexual just last year. | John, 49, came out as bisexual just last year. |
| The father-of-three said he'd known for a long time but thought of it as "being straight with fuzzy edges" and was "suppressing" how he really felt. | The father-of-three said he'd known for a long time but thought of it as "being straight with fuzzy edges" and was "suppressing" how he really felt. |
| John says his children "weren't fazed" when he came out | John says his children "weren't fazed" when he came out |
| He said his family were supportive when he eventually told them. | He said his family were supportive when he eventually told them. |
| "It was obviously a bit difficult at first, like a shock, but it wasn't about me wanting to change my behaviour, it was being authentically who I am. | "It was obviously a bit difficult at first, like a shock, but it wasn't about me wanting to change my behaviour, it was being authentically who I am. |
| "My children weren't fazed by it and I think that's a generational thing." | "My children weren't fazed by it and I think that's a generational thing." |
| Young Britons less likely to identify as straight | Young Britons less likely to identify as straight |
| When asked about which sex they are attracted to, without labels like "straight", "gay" or "bi", just 66% of people in the study said they were only attracted to people of the opposite sex. | When asked about which sex they are attracted to, without labels like "straight", "gay" or "bi", just 66% of people in the study said they were only attracted to people of the opposite sex. |
| Stonewall's chief executive, Nancy Kelley, said the findings tell a "really positive story about the nation we are becoming". | Stonewall's chief executive, Nancy Kelley, said the findings tell a "really positive story about the nation we are becoming". |
| "It tells us that lesbian, gay, bi, trans and queer people are more visible and more connected than we've ever been," she added. | "It tells us that lesbian, gay, bi, trans and queer people are more visible and more connected than we've ever been," she added. |
| "When you take the label away altogether you get an even bigger community of people saying 'do you know what, I can be attracted to different kinds of people'." | "When you take the label away altogether you get an even bigger community of people saying 'do you know what, I can be attracted to different kinds of people'." |
| She said it was "really welcome" that bi people were becoming "much more visible" but said biphobia was still "really common". | She said it was "really welcome" that bi people were becoming "much more visible" but said biphobia was still "really common". |
| "We've got a lot of work to do to make sure that bi people feel safe, sharing who they are with us and being out in their day-to-day lives." | "We've got a lot of work to do to make sure that bi people feel safe, sharing who they are with us and being out in their day-to-day lives." |
| Pride director says some battles still to be won | Pride director says some battles still to be won |
| The riots that changed the history of gay rights | The riots that changed the history of gay rights |
| Pride at 50: 'There was a sense of naughtiness' | Pride at 50: 'There was a sense of naughtiness' |
| The results, published by Stonewall on Thursday, indicate a similar trend to UK official statistics, with a slow decline of people identifying as heterosexual. The official statistics on bisexuality could not be directly compared as the questions are worded differently. | The results, published by Stonewall on Thursday, indicate a similar trend to UK official statistics, with a slow decline of people identifying as heterosexual. The official statistics on bisexuality could not be directly compared as the questions are worded differently. |
| Another finding of the study was that 2% of respondents said they are asexual, meaning they experience little or no sexual attraction towards anyone. | Another finding of the study was that 2% of respondents said they are asexual, meaning they experience little or no sexual attraction towards anyone. |
| Yasmin Benoit has identified as asexual since she was 15. | Yasmin Benoit has identified as asexual since she was 15. |
| The 26-year-old said one of the "most common misconceptions" she's seen is that people think asexual people must have "something physically or mentally wrong, like it must be a personality flaw, or a hormone deficiency or a mental disorder". | The 26-year-old said one of the "most common misconceptions" she's seen is that people think asexual people must have "something physically or mentally wrong, like it must be a personality flaw, or a hormone deficiency or a mental disorder". |
| But she says being asexual means she can "just focus on all the other joys of life" instead of worrying about "navigating sexual situations". | But she says being asexual means she can "just focus on all the other joys of life" instead of worrying about "navigating sexual situations". |
| "It definitely doesn't limit me in any way." | "It definitely doesn't limit me in any way." |
| Yasmin Benoit says there are misconceptions about asexuality | Yasmin Benoit says there are misconceptions about asexuality |
| In terms of gender identity, fewer than 3% who took part identified as transgender or as non-binary. | In terms of gender identity, fewer than 3% who took part identified as transgender or as non-binary. |
| The most recent government figures estimate there are 200,000-500,000 transgender people in the UK. | The most recent government figures estimate there are 200,000-500,000 transgender people in the UK. |
| The results of the 2021 Census for England and Wales are expected to give a more detailed picture of the make up of the population when released later this year. | The results of the 2021 Census for England and Wales are expected to give a more detailed picture of the make up of the population when released later this year. |
| Related Topics | |
| Bisexuality | |
| Generation Z | |
| LGBT | |
| Stonewall |