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Culture, Health & Sexuality
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Surveying sexual orientation: Asking
difficult questions and providing useful
answers
a b a
Kingsley Purdam , Angelia R. Wilson , Reza Af khami & Wendy
a
Olsen
a
Cat hie Marsh Cent re f or Census and Survey Research, Universit y
of Manchest er
b
Depart ment of Polit ics, Universit y of Manchest er, Manchest er, UK
Available online: 04 Feb 2008
To cite this article: Kingsley Purdam, Angelia R. Wilson, Reza Af khami & Wendy Olsen (2008):
Surveying sexual orient at ion: Asking dif f icult quest ions and providing usef ul answers, Cult ure,
Healt h & Sexualit y, 10: 2, 127-141
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, Culture, Health & Sexuality, February 2008; 10(2): 127–141
Surveying sexual orientation: Asking difficult questions
and providing useful answers
KINGSLEY PURDAM1, ANGELIA R. WILSON2, REZA AFKHAMI1, &
WENDY OLSEN1
1
Cathie Marsh Centre for Census and Survey Research, University of Manchester, and 2Department of
Politics, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
Downloaded by [The University of Manchester] at 07:08 12 January 2012
Abstract
Social survey data is essential to measuring equality, to assessing change over time and to the
evaluation of the impact of new policies. In this article, we identified and evaluated the survey
evidence for assessing equality in relation to sexual orientation in the UK. We reviewed the available
survey data in relation to key policy areas such as criminal justice, employment and health. Our
analysis suggests that there is only limited survey evidence on the circumstances of gays, lesbians and
bisexuals in the UK. This poses major barriers for driving forward an agenda of social justice in
relation to gay, lesbian and bisexual citizens. Robust research methodologies need to be developed
and resourced in order to gain a representative picture of the socioeconomic circumstances of gay,
lesbian and bisexual populations in the UK and to assess how they maybe changing over time.
Résumé
Les données des enquêtes sociales sont essentielles pour évaluer l’équité des statuts, les changements
dans le temps et l’impact des nouvelles politiques. Dans cet article, nous avons identifié et examiné
des données d’enquêtes pour évaluer l’équité par rapport à l’orientation sexuelle au Royaume Uni.
Nous avons passé en revue les données d’enquêtes disponibles et en rapport avec des champs
politiques clé comme la justice criminelle, l’emploi et la santé. Notre analyse suggère que l’évidence
scientifique des enquêtes sociales sur la situation des gays, des lesbiennes et des bisexuel(le)s au
Royaume Uni est limitée ; et que ses limites sont des obstacles majeurs si l’on veut faire progresser un
projet de justice sociale ayant rapport aux citoyen(ne)s gays, lesbiennes et bisexuel(le)s. De solides
méthodologies de recherche doivent être élaborées et documentées afin d’obtenir une image
représentative de la situation des populations gay, lesbiennes et bisexuelles au Royaume uni, et
d’évaluer comment elle pourrait évoluer dans le temps.
Resumen
Los datos recabados en estudios sobre aspectos sociales son indispensables para medir la igualdad,
evaluar los cambios con el paso del tiempo y analizar las repercusiones de las nuevas polı́ticas. En este
artı́culo, hemos identificado y evaluado pruebas de un estudio para valorar la igualdad en relación con
la orientación sexual en el Reino Unido. Hemos revisado los datos de estudios disponibles en lo
tocante a temas de polı́ticas clave tales como el sistema judicial criminal, el empleo y la salud. Nuestro
análisis indica que existen sólo pruebas limitadas de estudios sobre las circunstancias de
homosexuales, lesbianas y bisexuales en el Reino Unido. Esto plantea obstáculos importantes para
impulsar un programa de justicia social con respecto a los ciudadanos homosexuales, lesbianas y
bisexuales. Es necesario crear metodologı́as de investigación contundentes y desarrollar recursos para
Correspondence: Kingsley Purdam, Cathie Marsh Centre for Census and Survey Research, University of Manchester, Oxford
Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK. Email: Kingsley.purdam@manchester.ac.uk
ISSN 1369-1058 print/ISSN 1464-5351 online # 2008 Taylor & Francis
DOI: 10.1080/13691050701594758
, 128 K. Purdam et al.
adquirir una imagen representativa de la situación socioeconómica de homosexuales, lesbianas y
bisexuales en el Reino Unido y evaluar cómo podrı́an estar cambiando con el tiempo.
Keywords: Sexual orientation, equality, survey data, evidence
Introduction
In recent years, the New Labour government in the UK has put in place a range of ‘gay and
lesbian’ friendly policies (Wilson 2007a) including: equalizing the age of consent; ‘civil
partnerships’ recognizing lesbian and gay couples; increasing access to fertility treatments
(Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority [HFEA] 2005); and fostering and
adoption (The Adoption and Children Act 2002, and see Wilson 2007b). Alongside these,
steps have been taken to protect lesbian and gay citizens from physical harm as well as
Downloaded by [The University of Manchester] at 07:08 12 January 2012
socioeconomic discrimination including: the repeal of Section 28 of the Local Government
Act (1988); the recognition of aggravated assaults and ‘hate crimes’ against ‘homosexuals’
(The 2003 Criminal Justice Act); school policies tackling bullying based on (perceived or
stated) sexual orientation; anti-discrimination legislation in relation to employment
(Employment Equality — Sexual Orientation Regulation 2003); and protection from
discrimination in the delivery of goods and services (The Equality Act — Sexual
Orientation Regulations 2007). Finally, the Commission for Equality and Human Rights,
established in 2007, is the first government body established to ensure sexual orientation
will not be grounds for discrimination in the future.
The concern in this paper is that these policy initiatives need to be underpinned by a
robust evidence base for measuring impact and social change. There is only limited data
concerning population size, demographics and socioeconomic circumstances of ‘non-
heterosexual’ citizens1. Many academics, activists and government agencies rely upon an
estimate that around 6% of the UK population is gay or lesbian. However, the original
source for this figure is unconfirmed. For example, the Employment Equality—Sexual
Orientation Regulations 2003 Regulatory Impact Assessment (Department of Trade and
Industry 2005) estimates the lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) population to be between 5%
and 7%. Yet the report acknowledges that this figure is extrapolated from a myriad of
sexual-orientation related surveys, some of which focused on sexual behaviour rather than
identity. It is notable that the special edition of the Radical Statistics Journal (2003) on
sexuality, whilst of value, highlighted that there is very little quantitative evidence upon
which to draw on in this area.
Our discussion in this paper predominantly focuses on quantitative data gathering, but
within this are expressions of concern relevant to qualitative research. We provide a review
of the existing evidence-base and highlight some common methodological difficulties in
measuring the socioeconomic circumstances of GLB citizens in the UK. It is only with
robust evidence that the social justice agenda in relation to GLB citizens, under the remit of
the new Commission for Equality and Human Rights, can be taken forward.
Methodological issues — asking, and not asking, difficult questions
When evaluating quantitative data such as that collected via surveys, it is important to
question the appearance or claim of ‘objectivity’ in design, analysis and timing. Aside from
the stated aims of the research, there may be explicit or implicit arguments for specific
policy changes. Stated aims may target a particular issue or group of people while reported
