Information bank

Research

Stonewall has undertaken various research projects looking at attitudes to, and representation of, lesbian and gay people. To find out more, click on the links below:

Living Together - British attitudes towards lesbian and gay people

Stonewall commissioned YouGov to survey a nationally representative sample of over 2000 adults. The survey canvassed opinion on:

lesbian and gay people and their legal rights
gay people as family and friends
gay people in public life, including politics and the media
awareness of anti-gay prejudice and discrimination
causes of anti-gay discrimination
responsibility for tackling prejudice against lesbian and gay people

The aim of the research was to understand the nature of feelings towards lesbian and gay people in Britain today. The findings indicate that while Britain is a largely tolerant country which accepts that prejudice does not belong in a modern society, there are still pockets of anti-gay discrimination which are not being properly addressed.

The report also includes some straightforward recommendations which we are urging schools, employers, the media, the government and faith groups to consider.

To read Living Together click here.

Tuned Out - the BBC's portrayal of lesbian and gay people
Stonewall wanted to investigate how gay people and their lives are represented and portrayed on the BBC. This report analyses the performance of the BBC's flagship channels against its remit as a public-service broadcaster and its stated aims of being responsive and accountable to licence-fee payers and of reflecting diversity in its output.

To read Tuned Out click here.

Profiles of Prejudice

Prejudice takes many forms: homophobia, racism, ageism, sexism, xenophobia, transphobia and disablism - to name a few. Many of us have experienced prejudice, or have friends, family or colleagues who have. But relatively little research has been done to find out why prejudice - of whatever type - happens. Finding out about the nature of prejudice and why it happens is important if we want to find better ways to stop it.

To start this process, Stonewall's Citizenship 21 project (2001-2004) commissioned MORI to conduct an opinion poll so we could find out what people think about prejudice, which prejudices they have, and what they think influences their prejudices.

The resulting report, Profiles of Prejudice, found:

Almost two thirds of people (64%) can name at least one minority group towards whom they feel less positive - representing 25 million adults across England.
The most frequently cited groups are travellers/gypsies (35%), refugees and asylum seekers (34%), people from a different ethnic group (18%) and gay or lesbian people (17%).
Prejudice against one group tends to go hand in hand with prejudice against others. People who are prejudiced against any ethnic group are twice as likely as the population as a whole to be prejudiced against gay and lesbian people. They are four times as likely to be prejudiced against disabled people.
Knowing someone who is gay or lesbian reduces by half the likelihood of being prejudiced against gay or lesbian people as a group. Similarly, knowing someone from a different ethnic group reduces by half the likelihood of being prejudiced against people from different ethnic groups.

To read 'Profiles of Prejudice - a detailed summary of findings' please click here.

Understanding Prejudice

Profiles of Prejudice was followed by a further report into the nature of prejudice, Understanding Prejudice. This built on the previous research and attempted to identify a fuller understanding of the nature of prejudice among white majority Britons. Understanding Prejudice demonstrated a significant culture of respect within the white majority population and confirmed that levels of acceptance are linked to knowledge and understanding.

To see a copy of Understanding Prejudice, please click here.