Inequality among lesbian, gay bisexual and transgender ...

1 1 Inequality among lesbian, gay bisexual and transgender groups in the UK: a review of evidence Nathan Hudson-Sharp and Hilary Metcalf, National Institute of Economic and Social Research July 2016 2 This research was commissioned by the Government Equalities Office (GEO). The findings and recommendations are those of the authors and do not represent the views of the GEO or government policy. While the GEO has made every effort to ensure the information in this document is accurate, the GEO does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of that information. 3 Table of Contents Executive summary .. i Glossary .. vi 1 Introduction.

2 1 Background .. 1 Aims and scope .. 2 Overview of method .. 2 Structure of the report .. 3 2 Overview of the evidence base .. 5 Key points .. 5 Introduction .. 5 The relative extent of the evidence base .. 9 Specific groups .. 9 10 3 Education .. 11 Key points .. 11 Introduction .. 12 The evidence base .. 12 Discrimination .. 13 Heterosexism, transsexism and heteronormativity .. 15 Bullying, harassment and language .. 18 Consequences of homophobia, biphobia and transphobia in education .. 24 Education outcomes .. 26 27 4 Safety .. 30 Key points .. 30 Introduction .. 30 The evidence base .. 30 Hate Crime .. 31 Domestic Violence.

3 35 37 5 Health .. 38 Key points .. 38 Introduction .. 40 The evidence base .. 40 The health of LGB people .. 41 transgender and health .. 58 61 4 6 Access to and experience of services .. 64 Key points .. 64 Introduction .. 64 The evidence base .. 64 Experiences of services .. 65 Barriers to using services .. 66 Monitoring and engaging LGB&T people .. 68 Demand for services .. 69 Impact of spending cuts on LGB&T 69 70 7 Employment .. 71 Key points .. 71 Introduction .. 71 The evidence base .. 71 Employment patterns .. 72 Pay and benefits .. 74 Discrimination, bullying and harassment .. 75 Employer policies and practices.

4 80 81 8 LGB&T families, adoption and fostering .. 83 Key Points .. 83 Introduction .. 83 The evidence base .. 83 LGB&T support networks and families of choice .. 84 LGB&T adoption and fostering .. 87 Marriage and civil partnerships of same-sex couples .. 88 89 9 Homelessness and Access to Housing Provision .. 90 Key Points .. 90 Introduction .. 90 The evidence base .. 90 Homelessness .. 91 Accessing suitable housing .. 92 Housing into old age .. 93 94 10 Civic Society .. 96 Key Points .. 96 Introduction .. 96 The evidence base .. 96 Disengagement from formal democracy .. 97 Barriers to engagement .. 97 Informal engagement.

5 98 Experiences of participation .. 99 Public Attitudes towards LGB&T representatives .. 99 5 Conclusions .. 99 11 Other themes .. 101 Public 101 Asylum .. 103 Young people .. 106 Older LGB&T people .. 109 12 Evidence gaps .. 116 Key points .. 116 Introduction .. 116 Quantitative data .. 116 Evidence gaps in cross-cutting issues .. 117 Summary of evidence gaps identified in Chapters 2 to 10 .. 118 13 Conclusion .. 123 Introduction .. 123 Key policy issues .. 123 Inequality by gender identity .. 125 Appendix 1 Method .. 126 Introduction .. 126 Initial Review Process .. 126 Initial Review Outcomes .. 127 Second Review Process .. 127 Second Review: further assessment of quality and relevance.

6 128 Appendix 2 scoping Review Research Protocol .. 130 Focus .. 130 Inclusion criteria .. 130 Main search terms .. 130 Search process and methods .. 131 Appendix 3: Searches conducted .. 135 References .. 146 i Executive summary This evidence review was commissioned by the Government Equalities Office (GEO) to identify the nature of Inequality and relative disadvantage experienced by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGB&T) people in the UK. Its purpose was to support the development and targeting of policies intended to remove barriers to LGB&T equality. It builds upon three previous reviews1 to critically assess the nature, robustness and strength of evidence in order to highlight differences among and between LGB&T groups, as well as other relevant comparators.

7 The review takes a systematic approach, scoping and critically reviewing published and unpublished literature from 2008 onwards. It covers empirical research for the UK and its constituent parts, and focuses on nine policy areas. These are: education; safety, including hate crime and domestic violence; health and access to healthcare; access to and experience of services; employment; LGB&T families, adoption and fostering; homelessness and access to housing provision; participation in civic society; and 16-19 year olds not in education, employment or training (NEETs). It also reviews evidence in regard to particular LGB&T groups, including older and younger LGB&T people, and gay and lesbian asylum seekers.

8 All relevant representative, quantitative evidence identified is included in the review. Ideally the review would have included only representative evidence with adequate sample sizes to make comparisons between and within LGB&T and non-LGB&T groups. However, a lack of such evidence in many policy areas made it necessary to include some research with small sample sizes and no comparisons. The limitations of such evidence are made clear throughout the report. Main findings: The evidence base The review finds the evidence base for an effective assessment of Inequality and relative disadvantage by sexual orientation and gender identity is deficient and has major gaps.

9 To a large extent this stems from a shortage of robust, representative data, as well as a failure of research to disaggregate disadvantage into single LGB&T groups. In particular, the report identifies a dearth of evidence on Inequality by gender identity, and finds evidence on Inequality between LGB&T groups to be lacking. The report shows across policy areas how a lack of representative quantitative research data precludes a comprehensive and reliable assessment of the extent of disadvantage for LGB&T people in the UK. 1 Mitchell et al., 2009; Mitchell and Howarth 2009; Communities Analytical Services, 2013 ii Education Homophobic, biphobic and transphobic (HBT) bullying remains a major problem in schools and, to an extent, in further and higher education.

10 A number of measures, such as directly addressing incidents of HBT bullying, are thought by teachers to be effective but there is evidence that these measures fail to be universally implemented. Heterosexism and heteronormativity are prevalent in educational institutions reinforcing feelings of alienation among LGB&T students and leaving their specific support needs largely unaddressed. The evidence also finds teachers in need of leadership and support, including training. The evidence in relation to discrimination in education is weak, based on non-robust studies and with little comparison between groups. There is no reliable evidence on the extent of perceived or expected discrimination, and little reliable evidence on inequalities between groups.