Abstract

The number of people who identify as Lesbian, Gay, or Bisexual (LGB) in the United Kingdom (UK) is increasing; with an increase from 1.6% in 2014 to 2.8% in 2021 (Office for National Statistics (ONS), 2020; ONS, 2021). Similarly, there has been an increase in people in England and Wales, in the 2021 census, who identify as ‘Mixed or multiple ethnic groups’; an increase of 0.5 million people compared to the 2011 census (ONS, 2022). Both sexuality and ethnicity can be intrinsic components of a person’s identity and how they connect with the world around them. However, both can also have connected elements of presumption in how society expects a person to look, interact with those around them and generally behave. When considering potentially ‘hidden’ or ‘obscured’ identities such as those in opposite sex relationships who are bisexual or those from mixed ethnicity backgrounds who do not present as person expects there is an intersection. The potential that those people who could potentially choose to not ‘out’ themselves, whether sexuality, ethnicity, or both, are being more open about their identity is a case for joy and celebration. The question then becomes are there simply more people who identify in these ways and so an increase in people overall which is a valid consideration however the result is the same that there are more people identifying in these ways rather than less.