The inclusion of LGBT+ people in the census is long overdue’

The new national census will be conducted this year, and for the first time, it will include questions about LGBTQ+ identity. This is a great stride towards inclusivity of LGBTQ+ people in the UK, with the government able to collect reliable data about how many people identify as LGBTQ+ and what disadvantages they may face. It’s long overdue for us to be able to accurately reflect the large proportion of LGBTQ+ people in this country, and particularly in London where there are so many people who are part of this vibrant community. As a queer person myself, I am overjoyed to be able to contribute and answer questions about my experiences as a queer person, and as a person of colour, living in London, a unique identity with its own unique struggles. I have experienced discrimination based on my race and sexuality, and those struggles won’t be eradicated until we get a better picture of how many LGBTQ+ people are living in London, and in the UK, and how we can better support them. London’s LGBTQ+ history is well-documented through photos, video archives, journalism, TV shows, films etc that span years – but now, for the first time, we will be able to see accurate figures of how many people in London are, in fact, LGBTQ+ and be able to represent the community on the national stage.