Two years on: LGBTQ* UK pandemic experiences online survey - Preliminary results of the third survey

Pramendorfer, Liz and Houghton, Marie and Tasker, Fiona (2023) Two years on: LGBTQ* UK pandemic experiences online survey - Preliminary results of the third survey. Working Paper. Birkbeck University of London. (Unpublished)

Abstract

We haves summarized the preliminary results of our third LGBTQ* UK COVID-19 Experiences survey. A total of 594 LGBTQ* people who live across the UK helped us by completing this survey – thank you to everyone who helped to publicize it and took a look. Data collection took place between 24th of March and 7th of June 2022, with most of the responses submitted in April and May. The results show the continuing impact of the pandemic and resulting restrictions on the LGBTQ+ community in the UK. Mental health issues, sleep problems and financial struggles were a large concern for many. However, our findings generally show that fewer LGBTQ+ people were emotionally affected by the pandemic when compared to then findings from our previous pandemic surveys and a return to “normal” for many, with lower levels of health concern related to COVID-19 specifically. Nevertheless, there seems to be a chasm within the LGBTQ+ community regarding feelings of isolation. For the majority the easing of restrictions has brought more freedom. But others experienced further exclusion and were negatively impacted by the decrease in online services availability brought about by the easing of social restrictions. The number of people who considered themselves disabled has risen in comparison to numbers in our previous surveys, and for a lot of disabled participants navigating the easing of social restrictions has been made even more difficult by feeling as if other members of the community had no regard for their safety and health. In general, the pandemic seemed to give many people in the LGBTQ+ communities in the UK an opportunity to focus on personal development, their hobbies and interests, and/or spend extra time with partners or family. Various respondents had realizations about their gender identity and/or sexuality during the first lockdown and many subsequently decided to come out. This was often aided by the shift to socializing online, making it easier and safer to communicate and come out to others. This survey is the third part of a series of interview studies within an overarching international research project on LGBTQ* adults’ experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic. If you have any questions, would like to know more about the results, or would like to quote any of the material here, please do get in touch with Fiona Tasker (f.tasker@bbk.ac.uk).

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