Pride in London research reveals majority of LGBT people lie about their gender or sexuality

Organisation says findings are ‘striking’

Michael Salter-Church, chair of Pride in London, says the findings underline the importance of the event (Getty Images)

The majority of people in the LGBT+ community still feel the need to lie about their sexuality, a survey has found.

According to a poll of more than 1,000 people, 74% of LGBT+ people said they feel the need to lie about their sexuality or gender and 77% are uncomfortable being their true self in public.

In addition, 59% of LGBT+ respondents said they had felt threatened by other people’s attitudes and behaviours towards them, compared to just 16% of the straight people surveyed.

Michael Salter-Church, chair of Pride in London who conducted the poll with Quadrangle Research and Populus, said: “Great progress has been made in the name of LGBT+ equality in recent years, but these figures show the striking reason why Pride is still as important as ever.

“People in Britain who are LGBT+ still face the need to filter their true selves, and hide affection to their loved ones. At its heart, Pride in London is a community led movement that recognises the struggles and successes of everyone in our community.”

The research, which involved people who had signed up to the Pride in London mailing list, found those who identified as LGBT+ are also six times less likely to hold a partner’s hand in public than the rest of the population.

It also discovered how people who identify as LGBT+ are five times more likely to have been bullied at work because of their gender or sexuality, which perhaps explains why only 68% or respondents were out to their employer.

The poll was conducted ahead of this year's Pride in London festival, which concludes on 25-26 June with a weekend of events to celebrate gay culture.

Alison Camps, the organisation’s marketing director and deputy chair of Quadrangle Research, said: “As well as changing laws we need to change hearts and minds. Pride in London gives us an incredible day to celebrate who we are, and give people the confidence to be proud.

“This is what this year’s campaign #nofilter is all about. We will recognise those people who must live life under a filter, fight for them, and celebrate a day of #nofilter.”