Number of gays and bisexuals up by a third

THE proportion of Scots who say they are gay or bisexual went up by more than a third in the year before the pandemic struck.

Some 2.7 per cent of the population counted themselves lesbian, gay or bisexual in 2019, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

The number represents an increase in the minority sexuality population north of the Border – up from 2 per cent in 2018.

In England, the proportion identifying as lesbian, gay or bisexual rose from 2.3 per cent to 2.7 per cent; while in Wales and Northern Ireland it remained at 2.9 per cent.

The increases were concentrated mainly among young people. However growing numbers

‘Feel comfortable being ourselves’

of older people are also declaring themselves as gay, the ONS reported.

The increase may reflect the increasing willingness of gay people to declare their sexuality in official surveys. In the past they may have been reluctant to do so.

The breakdown produced from the large-scale Annual Population Survey also said the share of people who say they are bisexual has passed the one in 100 mark for the first time.

Young people and women were the most likely to say they were bisexual, it found.

Robbie de Santos, of the Stonewall pressure group, said: ‘It is wonderful to see the number of lesbian, gay and bi people in the UK is increasing. With increased visibility, more of us feel comfortable being ourselves.’