Research

The LGF is committed to providing services that are needs led and evidence based, which is why research has been given such a high priority in the organisation.

Not only does the LGF engage with the most up to date research in the field, it is also actively involved in generating its own research.

Here are some interesting facts:

  • Using official figures that 6% of the UK’s population are lesbian and gay then there are a minimum of 400,000 lesbian women and gay men in the North West today. We do not know the number of bisexual people in our area but a good guess would bring the amount of LGB’s in the northwest up to three quarters of a million people.
  • 250,000 of lesbians and gay men in the North West are of working age.
  • 10% of the UK’s civil partnerships to date have taken place in the North West. *
  • 73% of lesbian, gay and bisexual people have experienced prejudice, discrimination and harassment because of their sexual orientation.
  • Young LGB people are up to 3-6 times more likely to self-harm, and attempt or commit suicide than heterosexual young people. Approximately 40% of all young LGBT people self-harm and/or attempt suicide at least once.
  • The LGF Helpline takes thousands of calls per year. The top 5 reasons why people call the Helpline are relationships, loneliness/isolation, sexuality/coming out, health issues and legal issues.
  • Of current secondary school pupils, 143,000 children have suffered from anti-gay name-calling; 64,000 have been physically attacked; and 26,000 have had death threats. **
  • One third of gay and bisexual men who attend LGF’s Clinical Services say they have never had a sexual health check up before.
  • In a survey of 148 LGB people across Greater Manchester, 52% said they were more likely to take risks when they use drugs or alcohol before or during sex.
  • 59% of respondents to an LGF policing questionnaire in Manchester said that they had experienced homophobic hate crime at least once. Of 98 people who said they had been the victims of a hate crime because of theirs or someone else’s sexuality, 75% said they did not report it. (October 2005)

All information gathered from published research papers by LGF in partnership with various organisations supported by The Department of Health, UCLAN, and Manchester Public Health Development Service except * National Statistics /pinkweddings.biz and **Stonewall