The Government estimates 3.9 million people or 6% of the population identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual in the UK. It is estimated that 650,000 people, or 1% of the population identify as trans in Great Britain. Yet, homophobic, biphobic and transphobic culture is rife within school and sport in particular. (Make Sport Everyone's Game -Sports Toolkit, 2018)
Common negative experiences put lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people off taking part in sport, or being open with others about their sexual orientation or gender identity. Surveys report that:
- 2/3 of lesbian, gay and bisexual school pupils say they don't like team sports (School Report 2012)
- 41% of trans young people say they would not join a sports club (Metro Youth Chances Survey, 2014)
- 4 in 10 gay and bisexual men and 3 in 10 gay and bi women would expect homophobia if they participated in a team sport while being open about their sexual orientation (Gay in Britain, 2013)
- Gay and bisexual men are 4 times less likely to take part in team sports than their heterosexual peers (Sport England, Active People Survey 2013)