What’s life like for LGBTQ+ people in Redbridge?

In summer and autumn 2023 Redbridge Rainbow ran a survey and workshops for LGBTQ+ people who live, work, visit or study in Redbridge – we’re really grateful to everyone that participated in this. The survey does not provide a representative sample of our local LGBTQ+ community, but it does provide us with some powerful insight into what life can be like for LGBTQ+ people in Redbridge. In this blog Simon Shaw, Chief Executive at Redbridge Rainbow, covers some of the key issues that people told us about and some suggested ways that local services, organisations and residents can take action. We also presented the survey findings as part of an online briefing for local organisations; you can watch the recording of the presentation at the bottom of this page.

Celebrating our local LGBTQ+ community

While this blog focuses on some of the challenges people face, it is really important to recognise the wonderful diversity in the borough, as well as the steps that local organisations and services have taken and continue to take to include and support LGBTQ+ people. These actions include being part of Stonewall’s Diversity Champions programme, running events during LGBT+ History and Pride months, putting in place inclusive policies and practice, proactively consulting local LGBTQ+ people and running programmes for LGBTQ+ youth in our schools.  

Some of the key issues for LGBTQ+ people in Redbridge

The key challenges for LGBTQ+ people in Redbridge that were highlighted through the survey are: social isolation, accessing services, challenges to being ourselves, safety and discrimination.

Social isolation

LGBTQ+ people are potentially at higher risk of isolation and experiencing worse health and wellbeing outcomes if they have a disability or long-term health condition. LGBTQ+ people would like there to be more LGBTQ-focused activities in Redbridge. 

‘I’ve been to some events at the Ilford and Gants Hill libraries. These are literally the only LGBT activities I’m aware of in the Borough.’

‘All my peer group died in 90s.’

‘There aren't any LGBTQ+ venues or openly welcoming spaces.’

Accessing services

LGBTQ+ people are more likely than not to be ‘out’ to at least some of their friends, family, community and colleagues. However, we heard how a significant proportion of people do feel able to be ‘out’ when accessing services. LGBTQ+ people told is that they can feel that some staff in services are not respectful of their LGBTQ+ identity and give them a less good or welcoming service as a result. They can feel that local services are not LGBTQ-inclusive and that they don’t take proactive action to communicate how they do try to include LGBTQ+ people. As a result, some people can be slow to access services or do so outside of the borough.

‘Staff are too judgemental, make me feel ashamed.’

‘I sometimes don't get a good reaction because of my appearance. Impossible to get a haircut at a barber's as I either get redirected to a 'women's hairdresser' or charged more than the advertised prices.’

‘I haven't seen any initiatives from local services to reach out and encourage access to services, I am also unaware of what services are around. I think the more central London boroughs are more open to LGBTQ plus services and promotion on how to access them.’

Challenges to being ourselves

Redbridge is a wonderfully diverse borough and that is to be celebrated. A significant proportion of LGBTQ+ people have a religion or belief and there are great examples of LGBTQ+ inclusion by faith groups and places of worship. However, some LGBTQ+ people are also concerned about religious and cultural attitudes towards the LGBTQ+ community.  It’s really important for us to all foster greater understanding and inclusion, rather than foster divisions.

‘Lots of strong religious groups in Redbridge, which is great but also difficult when it comes to being open about sexuality. Fear of judgment.’

Safety and discrimination

Sadly, local LGBTQ+ people have experienced a wide range of negative comments, harassment, discrimination, abuse and hate crime, with some examples being particularly disturbing. People also have differing levels of trust in official reporting channels.

‘In certain areas, I don’t feel like I can hold my partner’s hand without feeling threatened.’

‘I sometimes get a laughing reaction, or I overhear comments about me when entering certain establishments or in public places.’

‘There has been an increase of verbal homophobia.’

Take action!

There’s an array of ways that local organisations, services and residents can take action and we are very happy to offer advice and reassurance or be involved in your next steps.

Connect with us and tell others about us

Anyone is welcome to sign up to our newsletter and follow us on social media. Please do encourage others to do the same as this can really help us to reach people.

Run LGBTQ+ inclusive events and activities

We are very happy to publicise others’ LGBTQ+ events through our newsletter and online listings. We also encourage organisations to run activities during significant times of the year such as LGBT+ History Month, Pride Monthand, IDAHOBIT, and other days and weeks that celebrate specific groups within the LGBTQ+ community.

Help to increase LGBTQ+ visibility

Inclusive events are one way to help to raise LGBTQ+ visibility. You can also include LGBTQ+ friendly and allyship symbols and images in your communications and encourage staff to do the same for example by wearing rainbow badges or lanyards, or including their pronouns in their email signature. Behind the scenes, you can also collect anonymous data on LGBTQ+ people to understand who is accessing your services and if there is action you can take to reach more LGBTQ+ people. 

Access training and advice for your team

LGBTQ+ people would like all services to take specific action to ensure they are proactively inclusive, rather than sometimes relying on overly simplistic assumptions that they ‘treat everyone the same’. There are number of face-to-face and online training course offered, including a regular course offered by our friends at elop. We are very happy to visit local services and organisations to speak at team meetings, run workshops or speak at events and so on.

Support community safety

Ensure your organisation tackles instances of discrimination. Make sure your team knows how to signpost people to report hate crime and access LGBTQ-inclusive support. See the ‘Community safety’ section of our directory for more information.

Support us

We are a small charity and can really make the most of any funding we receive in running our activities and supporting local LGBTQ+ people to have a voice. We have set up some different ways to support us through fundraising and we would be happy to speak at fundraising events.

Get in touch

Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you would like advice or have any questions (please remember there are no stupid questions!).