A major new report from LGBTQ+ charity Stonewall has revealed a troubling picture of life for rainbow communities in the United Kingdom, with eight in ten transgender respondents pessimistic about the future of equality.
Despite decades of progress towards LGBTQ+ equality, many rainbow people in Britain remain concerned about their safety, healthcare, workplaces and what the future holds.
Stonewall’s new report, LGBTQ+ Life in the UK: 2026, draws on responses from 3,473 LGBTQ+ adults surveyed by YouGov between March and April 2026.
Published on 30 October, the research examines six areas of everyday life: equality, belonging, safety, health, work and the future.
The findings reveal a complicated picture. Many respondents acknowledge improvements in acceptance and report positive relationships with friends and family.
However, transgender and gender-diverse people consistently report greater difficulties, particularly around discrimination, healthcare and confidence in the future.
Half Of LGBTQ+ People Are Pessimistic About Equality
One of the report’s most significant findings concerns how rainbow people believe attitudes towards LGBTQ+ communities have changed.
Among those surveyed:
- 48% believe acceptance of LGBTQ+ people has increased over the past decade.
- 32% believe acceptance has declined.
- 50% feel pessimistic about the future of LGBTQ+ equality.
- Just 24% feel optimistic.
The picture is particularly concerning for transgender respondents.
58% of trans+ people believe acceptance has declined over the past ten years, while 80% are pessimistic about the direction of LGBTQ+ equality.
Only 26% of trans+ respondents believe acceptance has improved.
The research also found younger LGBTQ+ adults were more pessimistic about the future than older respondents.
The findings suggest that while many people recognise historical progress, that progress does not necessarily translate into confidence about what comes next.
Transgender People Report Greater Discrimination And Safety Concerns
Safety remains a major concern across the LGBTQ+ community, with trans+ respondents reporting particularly high levels of harassment and discrimination.
Stonewall found that 45% of transgender and gender-diverse respondents had experienced harassment, intimidation or assault of a potentially criminal nature in the previous year.
However, only 18% of LGBTQ+ respondents who experienced a potential hate incident in the past year reported it to police.
Of those who did report an incident, 54% were dissatisfied with the response.
Everyday activities were also affected.
One in four LGBTQ+ respondents said they avoided certain bars or restaurants because they did not feel safe.
For trans+ people, that figure rose to 47%.
Nearly half of trans+ respondents, 49%, said they had changed how they dressed in public to avoid discrimination or harassment.
The figures highlight how concerns about safety can affect ordinary experiences, from going out with friends to expressing personal style.
Even Using A Public Toilet Can Lead To Questioning
The report also examined experiences in single-sex spaces, including public toilets and changing rooms.
Among transgender respondents, 21% reported having been questioned about their sex assigned at birth while using these facilities.
The proportion was particularly high among trans men, with 41% reporting the experience, compared with 32% of trans women.
The findings also extend beyond transgender people.
Eleven per cent of lesbian respondents said they had been questioned about their sex assigned at birth in single-sex spaces.
Stonewall noted that the relatively small samples for some transgender subgroups require caution when interpreting these figures.
The results nevertheless raise questions about how scrutiny of people’s appearance and gender can affect a wider range of individuals.
Family And Friends Remain Important Sources Of Support
Amid the more concerning findings, Stonewall’s research also highlights the importance of supportive relationships.
Among lesbian, gay, bisexual and other non-heterosexual respondents, 67% said they were open about their sexuality with family, rising to 88% with friends.
Of those who were open with their families, 93% said they felt accepted.
For transgender respondents, 52% were open about their gender identity with family, while 85% were open with friends.
Acceptance was also high among those who were open, with 86% feeling accepted by family and 95% by friends.
However, openness varied considerably between different groups.
Bisexual respondents and people from ethnic minority backgrounds were less likely to be open about their sexuality with family.
For non-binary respondents, just 40% said they were open with family about their gender identity.
Stonewall identified a strong relationship between being able to live openly, feeling accepted and reporting greater happiness.
The findings reinforce the value of supportive friends, whānau and chosen family, particularly for people who may not feel safe expressing their identities in every setting.
Healthcare Barriers Remain A Serious Concern
Access to respectful and appropriate healthcare was another important issue.
While 89% of LGB+ respondents who were open about their identity felt accepted by healthcare providers, that figure was lower among trans+ respondents at 74%.
One in ten LGBTQ+ respondents reported difficulties accessing healthcare because of their sexuality or gender identity.
For trans+ people, the figure rose to 33%.
The report also found that 39% of trans+ respondents felt healthcare staff lacked understanding of transgender health needs, compared with 18% of LGB+ respondents who reported a lack of understanding of their healthcare needs.
Some respondents said these experiences influenced whether they disclosed their identities to healthcare professionals.
The research also identified significant mental health concerns, with trans+ respondents reporting particularly high levels of distress.
Stonewall argues that improving healthcare access and reducing discrimination are essential to addressing these inequalities.
Being Yourself At Work Isn’t Always Easy
The workplace can be another setting where LGBTQ+ people feel pressure to conceal aspects of their identity.
Stonewall found that 30% of LGB+ respondents had hidden or disguised their sexuality at work during the previous year because of concerns about discrimination.
Among trans+ respondents, 46% had concealed their gender identity.
When choosing where to work, LGBTQ+ respondents placed considerable importance on inclusive workplace policies and feeling comfortable being open about their identities.
For trans+ people, the priorities were particularly clear.
Seventy per cent identified being addressed by their correct name and pronouns as an important consideration, while 68% wanted to feel able to be open about their gender identity.
Transparent equality policies and the freedom to wear clothing that reflected their gender identity were also important.
The findings suggest that workplace inclusion involves more than public statements of support. Everyday treatment, privacy and organisational policies can influence whether LGBTQ+ employees feel comfortable at work.
Rainbow People Are Also Worried About Their Financial Futures
The report looked beyond immediate experiences to explore longer-term concerns, including family formation, retirement and aged care.
More than half of LGBTQ+ respondents, 55%, said they lacked confidence in being financially secure during retirement.
Among those hoping to have children who had considered but not accessed fertility or family-building services, cost was a significant obstacle.
Twenty-four per cent identified services as too expensive, while 13% said NHS eligibility requirements were too strict.
Stonewall also found that just one-third of LGBTQ+ respondents were confident that future care providers would understand their needs as LGBTQ+ people.
Among trans+ respondents, that figure fell to 18%.
For many, the question is not simply whether they can live openly today, but whether they will have the financial security, healthcare and support they need as they grow older.
Sandi Toksvig Says Equality Requires Continued Work
British-Danish broadcaster and comedian Sandi Toksvig contributed the foreword to the report, drawing on her own experiences of coming out and raising a family as an openly lesbian woman.
Toksvig reflected on the significant changes she has witnessed during her lifetime, while warning that progress cannot be taken for granted.
She emphasised the importance of evidence in understanding what LGBTQ+ people actually experience, rather than relying on assumptions.
Stonewall chief executive Simon Blake has similarly called for renewed attention to discrimination and the inequalities experienced by transgender communities.
The charity wants the UK Government to develop a new LGBTQ+ strategy addressing the problems identified in the research.
What Can Rainbow Aotearoa Take From The Findings?
Although Stonewall’s research focuses specifically on the United Kingdom, many of the issues will resonate with rainbow and takatāpui communities in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Access to affirming healthcare, protection from discrimination, safety in public spaces and supportive workplaces are also subjects of discussion here.
The findings offer a reminder that legal recognition and changes in public attitudes do not necessarily mean everyone experiences equality in everyday life.
They also demonstrate why it is important to examine differences within LGBTQ+ communities rather than treating rainbow people as one group with identical experiences.
Transgender people, bisexual people, non-binary people and LGBTQ+ people from ethnic minority backgrounds can encounter different barriers to acceptance and support.
The UK results cannot be assumed to represent the experiences of New Zealanders, but they raise useful questions about how progress towards equality is measured.
