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2 Published Researched & written: Berkeley Wilde (Minotaur Communications) Additional material: Lou Hart Edited by: Mark Mower

3 Introduction Lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) people come from all over the UK and the world to live in London. Some are escaping from prejudice and violence and looking for a more tolerant environment. Others come to take part in London s diverse and vibrant LGBT community. The London Borough of Camden has a population fast- approaching 220,000 inhabitants. It is estimated that around 10% of these (some 22,000) are LGBT people. There are many myths and misunderstandings about LGBT people which are not supported by the facts. These myths contribute to much of the ongoing discrimination, prejudice and occasional abuse which LGBT people encounter in their everyday lives. In this leaflet we have used information from a wide range of sources to challenge and dispel these myths with facts and evidence. Myth 1: I don t know any LGBT people. Although you may not be aware of it, the likelihood is that 1 in 10 of your coworkers, friends, family or acquaintances will be LGBT people. LGBT people exist in all levels, workplaces, communities and cultures of society. Most LGBT people live ordinary lives as parents, children, carers etc. In short, they will live and work in the same places and groups as most people in Camden. Sexual orientation and gender identity are not included in council monitoring in Camden or the national census. Until this is changed, accurate figures for the number of LGBT people will not be available. Myth 2: LGBT people are promiscuous. LGBT people are just as likely to be single, partnered, or live with their partners as other people. More than 15,000 civil partnerships were registered between December 2005 and September Despite the pressure and homophobia LGBT relationships are subjected to, the best available evidence suggests that some 40% of lesbians and gay men are in relationships that have lasted for four years or more. Charges of promiscuity often relate to people who use public sex environments (PSEs). However, it should be recognised that, although engaging in sexual behaviour with other men, a majority of those using PSEs often identify as heterosexual. Page 1

4 Myth 3: LGBT people don t experience domestic violence. This is not true. If anything, LGBT people experience higher than average levels of domestic violence. About one-third of people in same-sex relationships experience some form of domestic violence. This compares with one-third of women and one-fifth of men in the general population. LGBT domestic violence is also largely under-reported. This is largely due to both the historical relationship the LGBT community has had with criminal justice organisations (criminalisation, harassment and entrapment) and the lack of adequate and appropriate services to meet their needs. Myth 4: LGBT people shouldn t have children. There is absolutely no evidence to suggest that being raised in a same-sex or transgender household will influence a child s sexual orientation or have a negative impact on their health and/or emotional well being. In fact, evidence from the United States suggests that children may be better integrated at school when raised in a lesbian household as opposed to other households. About a fifth of LGBT people, or their partners, have dependent children, many of whom live with them. This includes children who have been fostered or adopted, and children born to LGBT parents. Since December 2005, unmarried couples, including same-sex couples, can jointly apply to foster or adopt children. This includes same-sex couples who have not registered as a civil partnership. Myth 5: LGBT people abuse children. There is no evidence to suggest that LGBT people are more likely to abuse children than other people. In fact, quite the opposite - figures from the United States indicate that a fraction of 1% of cases of child abuse involved a lesbian or gay man. The most likely people to abuse children are men who identify as heterosexual. Myth 6: There is a different age of consent for LGBT people. No, this is not true. In England, Wales and Scotland the age of consent for gay, lesbian and heterosexual people is 16. It has been the same for everyone since In Northern Ireland the age of consent for all is 17. Myth 7: No one gets bullied, beaten or killed because they re LGBT. Again this is not true. The 1999 bombing of the Admiral Duncan public house in Old Compton Street, and the murder of David Morley on London s South Bank in October 2004, are frightening reminders of the ever-present reality of violent crime against LGBT people. Page 2

5 The need for measures to tackle homophobia and transphobia becomes apparent when we consider the statistics: 65% of young lesbian, gay and bisexual people experience homophobic bullying in Britain s schools. Some 64% of young trans men and 44% of young trans women also experience harassment or bullying at school. An average of 1 in 3 gay men and 1 in 4 lesbians in Britain has experienced at least one violent attack in the last five years. In 2006, around 46% of the homophobic or transphobic motivated crimes recorded in Camden involved violence. As a rough comparison, of all the reported crime in the general population for a similar period, some 15% was recorded as violent crime. Myth 8: LGBT people are no different to anyone else when it comes to self-harm or suicide. This is not true. Young gay and bisexual men are 14 times more likely to selfharm than men in the general population. Young LGBT people are more likely to self-harm or attempt suicide than other young people. Reasons for this are varied but may include the stresses of school and family life, lack of support, isolation and the general youth culture which uses gay as a derogatory term. Some reports claim that LGBT people under 25 are also 5 times more likely to be medicated for depression. Myth 9: All LGBT people abuse alcohol and drugs. Although heroin and crack cocaine use among LGBT people remains low, there is some truth to this myth with reference to other substances. According to Antidote, an LGBT Drug & Alcohol Project, up to 1 in 3 LGBT people will suffer alcohol or drug addictions compared to 1 in 10 heterosexual people.this can be attributed to social and psychological causes such as stress, homophobia, low self-esteem, HIV, lifestyle, lack of support and the use of bars as meeting places. Most public services are not tailored to LGBT people, who tend to be infrequent users of non-commercial meeting places such as community centres. Since one-third of people hide their sexuality at work, this also limits their social opportunities through the workplace. Page 3

6 Myth 10: LGBT people are all well educated. Homophobic bullying can cause higher levels of absenteeism and truancy in secondary schools. Lesbian, gay and bisexual people who have been bullied are less likely than their peers to continue into further or higher education. They are also more likely to contemplate self-harm or suicide. Similarly, a higher than average proportion of trans people leave school at 16, although research has shown that around a third take up further and higher education later in life. Myth 11: LGBT people are no longer discriminated against at work. It is illegal to discriminate in employment on the grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity, with some, mostly faith-based, exceptions. LGBT people contribute in all areas of work. They are teachers, youth workers, police officers, doctors and lawyers and can be found in every workplace and in every community. However, one third of lesbian, gay and bisexual people conceal their sexual orientation at work. 7 out of 10 LGBT people claim to have been harassed or indirectly discriminated against at work. 16% have experienced direct discrimination, with 85% claiming that they have been dismissed because of their sexual orientation. 1 in 5 lesbian, gay and bisexual employees who have been subjected to workplace discrimination go on to consider suicide. Research has also shown that 38% of trans people have experienced harassment at the time of their transition at work and 25% have experienced harassment at work for a period after their transition. Interestingly, in work places where it is safe for people to come out, lesbian, gay and bisexual people earn 50% more, on average, than in environments where it is unsafe and people have to hide their sexual orientation. Despite recent positive legislation to protect LGBT people at work, studies show that ongoing discrimination and fear of professional disadvantage persists in the workplace. Myth 12: Pink Pound - LGBT people are wealthy and therefore don t suffer discrimination. This myth raises an interesting question - why should LGBT people earn more than heterosexual people? Page 4

7 Research shows that, on average, gay men in couples earn 6% less than heterosexual men and are more likely to be out of work. Lesbian couples also earn less than heterosexual couples but earn more than single heterosexual women. This has been attributed to the gender pay gap and the increased likelihood of heterosexual women being engaged in childcare or part time work. On the basis of the available research, it is quite clear that far from being wealthy, a significant proportion of LGBT people live in poverty and are likely to suffer from the debilitating effects of this in their everyday lives. Myth 13: LGBT people can access the same services as everyone else and don t need special attention. LGBT people have the same rights and responsibilities in relation to health, social care, housing, leisure and education services as any other member of the community. To withhold services because of someone s sexual orientation or gender identity, or to subject LGBT people to discrimination, is illegal. However, many LGBT people still have difficulty accessing services for various reasons including homophobia and transphobia. Equal access will require organisations to tailor services more specifically to the needs of LGBT people, improve staff training and ensure confidentiality as well as sensitivity. Myth 14: LGBT is a White Thing. LGBT people come from every ethnic background and reflect the diversity of ethnicity found in the general population. In broad terms, 1 in 10 LGBT people will be from a Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) background. In Camden, 1 in 4 LGBT people will be from a BME background, reflecting the generally higher BME representation in the local population. While there is limited information on BME LGBT people, a survey carried out by GALOP in 1998 found that 57% of young black lesbians, gay men and bisexuals had experienced homophobic violence and 38% of those who had experienced violence believed it to be motivated by a combination of racism and homophobia. Myth 15: You can t be religious and be LGBT. While it may be true that a large percentage of LGBT people have rejected mainstream religions, the historical and current attitudes of some members of mainstream religions towards LGBT people is an influencing factor. Despite this, research shows that LGBT people also come from every faith, religion and belief irrespective of the teachings of the major religions about Page 5

8 same-sex relationships. The diversity of faiths among LGBT people reflects the same broad range of faiths in the general population. Myth 16: Disabled people don t have sex or relationships and so have no issues around sexual orientation and identity. Disabled people do have sex and relationships and some of them are also LGBT people! Research shows that around 7% of LGBT people are disabled. This figure compares with 5.5% of disabled people in the general population. Disabled LGBT people often experience prejudice and discrimination based on their disability as well as their sexual orientation and/or gender identity. This multiple discrimination can be severe, although there has been little research to date on how this operates in practice. According to REGARD, the national organisation for disabled lesbian, gay men, bisexual and trans people,...disabled people are particularly vulnerable to discrimination, harassment, violence and abuse arising from racism, sexism and homophobia as well as and in combination with disabilism. Myth 17: Be careful - all gay and bisexual men have AIDS. There has been a steady rise in the number of HIV diagnoses among gay and bisexual men since However, since 1999, the number of new HIV diagnoses among heterosexual men has been higher than those among gay and bisexual men. 1 in 8 gay and bisexual men in London are HIV positive. The proportion is lower elsewhere in the UK. And while the epidemiology of HIV in the UK changes, HIV remains a serious health issue for the LGBT community. Further work to challenge the stigma that surrounds the disease is needed if LGBT people, particularly those living with HIV, are to be able to take part fully and contribute within their communities. Myth 18: The worst thing in the world is to be Older and LGBT. Unfortunately, in some cases, this may be true. Older LGBT people experience the same discrimination and prejudices as other older people. However, many will also face homophobia or transphobia in addition to ageism. Many older LGBT people have spent most of their lives living in a society where their sexuality and/or gender identity has been criminalised, misunderstood or feared. As a result, some older LGBT people have chosen not to disclose their sexuality or gender identity or come out and as a result may also have internalised the stigma attached to being LGBT. This has contributed to the impression that there are few older LGBT people. Page 6

9 There are no dedicated sheltered, residential or nursing facilities for LGBT people (which some, though not all, would prefer in order to provide the companionship of their peers and to avoid discrimination) and awareness of the needs and existence of older LGBT people is still low among front-line providers of services to older people. Myth 19: All trans people are sick and unstable. According to the World Health Organisation, trans people are still classified as having a mental disorder. This was also the case with homosexuality until 17 May However, self-identification does not constitute a mental illness. Approximately 1 in every 11,500 people is trans. Many trans people feel that they belong to the opposite gender to the one assigned to them at birth or they may reject mainstream notions of gender, which are supposed to make them behave in certain ways. Both men and women can be trans. The polite and considerate way to address or refer to trans people is according to the gender they present. If you are unsure of their gender, the most polite thing to do is to ask them discreetly. Moving from one gender to another can involve a period of living as the opposite sex and undergoing hormone therapy and surgery, although the pathway may be different for each trans person. It should also be recognised that trans people may be heterosexual, bisexual, lesbian or gay. Myth 20: It s a lifestyle choice. There have been many studies which indicate that sexual orientation and gender identity is innate or, at the very least, determined at a very young age. However, some scientific studies also seem to show a genetic or biological difference between heterosexual people and LGBT people. There are also many political and religious leaders that view being LGBT as a choice, abnormal, an addiction and/or evil. The language used is often inflammatory and the term usually used to describe LGBT people is that they have made a lifestyle choice. The impact of this and other similar statements, both here and internationally, can be extreme; denial of legitimate civil protection or access to services; incitement of hatred; forcible attempts at conversion; and the denial of human rights and civil liberties. In both recent and current history, LGBT people around the world have been subject to what are, often, state sanctioned aversion therapies such as brain lobotomies, forcible ingestion of opposite gender hormones or other drugs, Page 7

10 breast and uteri removal, chemical and surgical castration and electric shocks, together with rape and imprisonment. Additionally, LGBT people are still attacked and murdered in many countries around the world. Taking this into account, together with the prevalence of homophobic and transphobic bullying at school; the ongoing discrimination in employment and in the provision of goods and services; the experience of violence and abuse even in those societies where anti-discriminatory laws exist; the use of the term lifestyle choice trivialises the experiences of LGBT people and should not be used in association with them. What can I do to support LGBT people? There are a number of ways in which you can help to create a safer and friendlier environment for LGBT people in your workplace, school, family and community: Treat LGBT people with respect, as you would like to be treated yourself. Challenge homophobia, transphobia and heterosexism whenever you experience it but always with respect for the beliefs, dignity and safety of yourself and others. Make sure your workplace, school or group has up to date policies, training and on-going staff development that deals specifically with LGBT issues. Talk to LGBT co-workers/colleagues/peers about what they feel is needed to make the environment a safer and more welcoming place for all and work with them to achieve these improvements. Help to promote LGBT events and display and distribute information about LGBT organisations. If you are responsible for the delivery of a service, make sure you monitor and think about how accessible your service is to LGBT people. Do not use the phrase lifestyle choice or lifestyle in the context of LGBT issues and challenge its use by others. Page 8

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12 Financially supported by Camden s Local Area Agreement and Camden Council Layout & Design: Tessa Havers-Strong