UK Black Pride 2021 Survey

I know firsthand the racism and discrimination faced by LGBTQI+ Black people and people of colour in the UK. 16 years ago, UK Black Pride was founded to create a much-needed space for our communities to escape and to breathe, to celebrate who we are, where we come from and the cultures we represent and love. UK Black Pride is not the only space, and none of the brilliant spaces created for us and by us are a fix-all for larger, structural and societal wrongs that continue to blight the lives of LGBTQI+ Black people and people of colour. As much as we’d like to live in a world that celebrates and loves us, too, we don’t – and I am absolutely heartbroken to read how LGBTQI+ Black people and people of colour are treated. 

READ THE FULL REPORT

We continue to be concerned at the erasure of and disregard for the lived experiences of LGBTQI+ Black people and people of colour.

In two prominent examples, the Government’s 2017 National LGBT Survey and the 2021 Sewell Report, the impact of racism and discrimination on LGBTQI+ Black people and people of colour was completely overlooked, but the intersection of race, sexuality and gender identity is one that demands examination. In the past 12 months, 47% of all respondents have been insulted, pestered, intimidated or harassed in person; of respondents who had experienced violence or harassment, over 56% felt that it had been motivated by their race or ethnicity, and 47% felt that it had been motivated by their sexuality.

These findings offer insights into two

phenomena: the increasing anti-LGBTQI+ discrimination across British society, and the racism experienced by LGBTQI+ Black people

and people of colour within the LGBTQI+ communities. The refusal to acknowledge the particular and specific harm caused LGBTQI+

Black people and people of colour in this country continues to exacerbate violence and discrimination against our communities. And

well-publicised and long-running failures by organisations “committed” to providing safe spaces for the LGBTQI+ community continue to

reveal a consistent lack of meaningful actions to address racism, transphobia, Islamophobia and discrimination among our own ranks.

Hostile coverage about trans people in British media continues to contribute to challenges for trans and non-binary people in our communities.

A general feeling of unsafety in public has impacted the mental health and wellbeing of our trans and non-binary siblings, as they continue to avoid public bathrooms, gyms and sports groups. Islamophobia in the media and across British society is impacting our Asian and Asian British siblings, and those who are read as Muslim whether or not they are: 70% avoid certain streets because of feeling unsafe and 55% adjust the way they dress in public.

Nevertheless, we were delighted to read about a high level of openness about sexuality and gender identity among our respondents: 99%are open about their sexual orientation with at least one person in their lives, and 95% of trans and nonbinary respondents are open about their gender identity. It seems, though, that our communities feel less confident about showing up as themselves in the workplace and with their colleagues: 46% of respondents aren’t open about their gender identity and 39% aren’t open about their sexuality. This perhaps speaks to the questionable efficacy of diversity and inclusion initiatives, particularly when the experiences of LGBTQI+ Black people and people of colour are routinely treated as less important. Crucially, we have some intracommunal work to do: 84% of respondents aren’t open with any of their family members about their sexuality, and 59% are not open about their gender identity.

The question I’m asked most often, ad absurdum, is “Why is UK Black Pride necessary?” Despite me having answered this question for 16 years, it still requires explaining, though not to those who need, enjoy and participate in the spaces we build. UK Black Pride is both an escape from the reality of racism, sexism and discrimination in this country and a much-needed space to celebrate together the depth, breadth and diversity of our communities. When asked what brings our respondents joy, one response stood out for me:

“Being celebrated for who I am and being with my chosen family who I know will support and uplift me. Being with others and just breathing, existing and thriving. Being seen and held.”

The findings presented in our inaugural survey offer much to be considered, for us as UK Black Pride and for those who care at all about how LGBTQI+ Black people and people of colour are treated. Each of us deserves respect, safety and acceptance. Each of us deserves to have our experiences counted and to inform the provision of services. Each of us deserves to have our voice heard. The work ahead of us at UK Black Pride is the building of our first Community Action Plan, through which we’ll distribute funding to organisations working in service of LGBTQI+ Black people and people of colour, and which address some of the key findings within this report. Our hope is that other organisations will join us in committing to addressing and redressing some of the disparities made clear here.

I’d like to thank Kantar and Stonewall for their work in the delivery and analysis of our survey, and to NYX Professional Makeup for their funding of this report and support of our Community Action Plan. I’d also like to extend a special thank you to our volunteers, Aisha Shaibu and Josh Rivers, who spent a great deal of their time making this survey and Community Action Plan a reality.

Finally, thank you to our respondents. 1,464 of you raised your voices and shared with us your experience of life in the UK. We have heard you and we will take action.

In love, unity and solidarity

Lady Phyll

Co-founder and executive director