England and Wales’s census counts trans and non-binary people for the first time. Trans and non-binary people in Britain need the government’s help. Transgender and non-binary [1]people have been counted for the first time in the 220-year history of the Census for England and Wales, which shows that 262,000 people identify as a gender different from their registered gender at birth.
[1] What is LGBTQ?
Before discussing England and Wales census findings, we will provide definitions of key terms. LGBTQ stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Queer. According to Stonewall, LGBTQ+ people are often talked about as one group. However, there are important differences between the people who make up the LGBTQ+ community. Some people may use terms like lesbian, gay, bi, or queer to describe who they are sexually attracted to. Stonewall presents definitions of LGBTQ conditions as follows:
Lesbian: A lesbian is a woman who falls in love with or wants to have a relationship with another woman. For example, some people have two mothers that are in love with each other.
Gay: The word gay is used to describe someone who falls in love with or wants to have a relationship with people who are the same gender as them. For example, some people have two fathers that are in love with each other or two mothers that are in love with each other.
Bisexual: The word bi describes someone that might fall in love with or might want to have a relationship with someone of the same gender as them or a different gender to them. For example, a person might have had a boyfriend in the past but have a girlfriend now.
Trans: When people are born, they are labelled as a boy or a girl. When some people get older, they realise that the label they received was wrong. They might say I’m not a boy. I’m a girl. Or they might say I’m not a girl. ‘I’m a boy’. Trans refers to people who feel like this.
Non-binary: Non-binary is a word that describes people who don’t feel like they are a boy or a girl.
How many people are LGBTQ?
As stonewall says, the Office for National Statistics of the UK estimates that LGB people make up two per cent of the population. This means 1.1 million people. Trans people account for 0.3 to 0.8 per cent (between 200,000 and 500,000 people). Many LGBTQ+ people feel unable to be open about their LGBTQ+ identity. Therefore, it is important to recognize that there are more LGBTQ+ people than these figures.
According to the Guardian (Fri 6 Jan 2023), a survey has counted transgender and non-binary people for the first time in the 220-year history of the census for England and Wales. The census has shown that 262,000 people are gender different from their sex registered at birth.
The number of people who said they were not the same gender as their birth sex was 0.5% of the population that responded. This is lower than polling by Ipsos last summer. In Ipsos polling, 3.1% of people said that they were non-binary, trans, genderqueer or gender fluid, agender or another gender that was not male or female.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has previously monitored Sexual identity in its extensive yearly population survey. The 2021 census showed that there were 748,000 (1.5%) people who described themselves as lesbian or gay.
What are the causes of a particular sexual orientation?
There is no agreement about the exact causes of heterosexual, bisexual, gay or lesbian orientation. Much research has studied the possible genetic, hormonal, developmental, social and cultural influences on sexual orientation. However, findings show no particular factor or factors that determine sexual orientation. Many think that nature and the environment both play complex roles. Most people experience little or no sense of choice about their sexual orientation (American Psychological Association).
Homosexuality is against the nature that God has created for men and women. As Plato says, As Plato says, homosexuality is “unnatural” (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy). In other words, wrong sexual behaviours, like many habits, are the results of environmental factors.
What consequences does non-binary sexual behaviour have?
LGBTIQ+ people have an increased risk of mental and physical problems. As it says in Beyond Blue, research and real-life experiences have shown that LGBTIQ+ people have an increased risk of anxiety and depression, substance abuse, self-harming and suicidal thoughts. When compared with heterosexual people, same-sex attracted and transgender people have higher psychological distress and significant levels of anxiety.
From the medical point of view, it has also been proven that same-sex relationship is a risky relationship. According to CMDA, the health effects of same-sex sexual behaviour are many. The public, government, and judiciary mostly believe that same-sex sexuality is a normal variant. They may believe that interactions and results of homosexuality are equivalent to those of heterosexual sexuality. However, this position is against professional research findings and records of history.
What human rights must LGBTQ+ people have?
According to the Guardian, England and Wales, census figures came after Britain went down the latest Rainbow Europe Index. The index ranks countries according to the human rights situation of gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans and intersex people. In Rainbow Europe Index, the UK went down from 10th to 14th place.
The Guardian adds that the Europe region of ILGA (the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association) docked points because there was “widespread political and media anti-trans sentiment”, the government has opposed gender recognition reforms and has yet to ban highly controversial “conversion therapy”. “Conversion therapy” tries to teach people not to be homosexual or transgender.
Governments and officials neglect one of the basic rights of LGBTQ+ people. They have the right to get help from the government. LGBTQ+ people are in some way similar to addicts using drugs. Thus they need advice and help to give up homosexuality. This is one of their basic rights to get help from authorities to give up their wrong habits.
Homosexuality and other sexual unnatural problems are against the nature that God has created for men and women. Acting against this nature will cause the deviation of the human soul and body. The health effects of same-sex sexual behaviour are many. Moreover, Homosexuality damages a person’s mental health. If men and women become homosexual, the human race will be cut off. In addition, social life will turn to corruption, and the world will lead to destruction.
As Plato says, same-sex sexuality is “unnatural”. The government must stop supporting and encouraging homosexuality. LGBTQ+ people need psychological help. England and Wales census findings show that the government is not acting properly to help LGBTQ+ people. The government must help these people to get rid of this destructive habit. The government can decrease the number of LGBTQ+ people by making appropriate decisions and laws.
