Michelle Monaghan 

More than six per cent of UK citizens have changed their sexual identity over the last six years, according to research from Lancaster University.

The Findings

The research note, ‘Sexual Orientation Identity Mobility in the United Kingdom’, by Professor Yang Hu of Lancaster University and Assistant Professor Nicole Denier of the University of Alberta in Canada, was published in Demography, the flagship journal of the Population Association of America.

Around 22,673 individuals were observed twice over the six years, employing data from the United Kingdom Household Longitudinal Study (USOC). The study focused on gender identity and sex at birth and is the only survey of its kind to do so. USOC uses various methods to collect data, including in-person interviews and self-completion modules.

“Sexual fluidity was proven to vary across different age and ethnic groups.“

Lead author Professor Yang Hu said: “The idea that sexual identity is fluid is not new but, up until now, we know relatively little about just how fluid it is in the population and how the fluidity varies across different demographic groups.”

Sexual fluidity was proven to vary across different age and ethnic groups. Sexual identity mobility is 10.3 per cent less likely among men compared to women, with people from a non-white background three times more likely to be sexually fluid.

With a predicted mobility rate of 7.9 per cent, young people between the ages of 16 and 24 are the most sexually fluid demographic, closely followed by women aged 65 and over at 7.4 per cent.

Some of the other main findings from the study show sexual identity mobility is more common among the less educated.

Sexual identity mobility is also more prevalent among those who self-identified as bisexual and had other sexual identities but preferred not to disclose them, compared with those who self-identified as heterosexual, gay or lesbian.

The England and Wales Census

This isn’t the first landmark study into the sexual orientation of  UK citizens. Earlier this year,  the Decennial England and Wales census asked people about their sexual orientation and gender identity for the very first time. 

Although the questions were voluntary, 165,000 people identified as having “other” sexual orientations and 262,000 people said their gender identity was different from their sex registered at birth.

However, the recent census and survey are the beginning of a very long road to recording sexual identity accurately. 

Supporting LGBTQ+ access to healthcare

The NHS Confederation, the membership body for NHS providers, recently published a guidance paper, ‘Leading for all: supporting trans and non-binary healthcare staff’. The report aims to enhance the staff’s understanding of the needs of trans and non-binary co-workers. It allows trans and non-binary staff members to carry out their duties as well as discuss what challenges may arise and the relevant laws to be familiar with related to trans and non-binary people’s rights.

However, the paper has received criticism for allowing female patients who request same-sex care to be “discriminatory” against receiving treatment by transgender healthcare professionals. The authors’ recommendation that future research related to sexual identity includes behaviour and attitudes in the general population would be helpful in such matters. 

The importance of researching sexual identity

“The 2021 UK Census has started to collect data on people’s sexual identity, and many other countries are moving to collect data on sexual minority populations, including the 2020 US Census”, said Professor Denier, “but sexual identity has been measured in different ways internationally.

“It is hoped that surveys such as these will help governments and practitioners to better understand sexual identity as a fluid concept.”

“Our findings show that inferring one’s sexual identity from one’s partner’s sex, the type of information available in the 2020 US Census, would substantially underestimate the sexual minority population and sexual identity mobility compared with measuring it based on individuals’ self-reported identification as in the 2021 UK Census or with surveys that follow people over time.”

It is hoped that surveys such as these will help governments and practitioners to better understand sexual orientation as a fluid concept.

Further research in this area could aid in the creation of effective policies to protect sexual minority groups.

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Image courtesy of  Cecilie Johnsen on Unsplash. No changes were made to this image. Image license found here. 

Originally from Australia, Michelle moved to the UK to pursue her dream of becoming a journalist. She is a reporter at the Farnham Herald and a NCTJ trainee at News Associates. Michelle holds a Bachelor of International Relations and a Bachelor of Arts, with a Major in Women's Studies and a Minor in Creative Writing from Flinders University.

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