As part of a series of maps illustrating data collected during the 2021 Census, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has published a new interactive map that reveals exactly how gay your area is. Sadly, in an act of exclusion that this Scottish queer is unlikely to forgive any time soon, the map only pertains to England and Wales. But within that, it’s highly specific: you can look up your postcode and find out the exact percentage of its inhabitants who identify as LGB+ (gay, lesbian, bisexual or some other orientation.) While today the term ‘LGB’ often reads like a trans-exclusive dog whistle, in this case it’s being used because the question related to sexual orientation alone – gender identity is covered in a separate set of data (more on that below).

Unsurprisingly, long-time gay capital Brighton takes the top spot, with 10.73 per cent of people over the age of 16 identifying as LGB+. Greater London was the gayest region at 4.3 per cent, with seven of its boroughs featuring in the top ten LGB+ local authorities. The most mind-blowing revelation is that the City of London is apparently the single gayest borough, followed by Hackney. Does anyone even live there? Is there in fact a thriving underground techno scene playing out in its many branches of Leon, Itsu, and Pret a Manger?

The map was published alongside the full set of data on LGBTQ+ identities gathered in 2021, which was the first time the census ever included a question on sexual orientation. Out of 44.9 million respondents (92.5 per cent of the population aged 16 and over), 89.4 per cent identified as heterosexual and 3.2 per cent identified as gay, lesbian, bisexual, or something else – the most common write-in responses included asexual, pansexual and queer. The remainder of people did not answer the question.

As for gender identity, the question was simpler: respondents were asked “Is the gender you identify with the same as your sex registered at birth?” 94 per cent of the adult population (45.7 million people) answered “yes”, 0.5 per cent answered “no” (262,000 people) and the remainder declined to answer.

Of the people who answered no, there was a similar rate of trans men and trans women at 0.10 per cent (48,000), while a smaller number identified as non-binary (0.06 per cent or 30,000 people.) The remainder either did not specify or wrote in a different gender identity. As with sexual orientation, this is the first time this question was included, so it’s impossible to compare the data with previous years. But we do know that London is the most trans region – perhaps surprisingly, the boroughs of Brent and Newham topped the list.

Even more surprisingly, considering its sky-high LGB+ population, Brighton failed to make the top ten local authorities at all – Brighton, you have been caught slipping! The only two cities outside of London which did were Norwich and Oxford. If you’re trans, you can also get in on the interactive map fun. 

I’ll level with you: I’m not a data journalist and I suffer from self-diagnosed dyscalculia, so I can’t really comment on how accurate the census data is (it seems somewhat implausible that only 30,000 people in England and Wales identify as non-binary, for example.) But I asked a friend who is a statistician and he replied that it’s “as good a guess as any other.” Make of that what you will! In any case, the fact that sexual orientation and gender identity have been included in the census after years of exclusion has been welcomed by LGBTQ+ activists and campaigners. Charity Stonewall tweeted, “It’s incredible to see the true size of the LGBTQ+ community across the country. And as our visibility rises, so does our support!”

While that’s true, this data also shows something else. I’m wary of arguing for trans rights on the basis that trans people are a small minority and too insignificant to pose any harm. The point is that being trans is neutral or positive, that it is not harmful, and that trans people have a right to autonomy, all of which would hold true at any percentage. But at the same time, these figures really hammer home how cruel and pointless it is that the British media has spent the last five years demonising trans women – a group who, if the census is to be believed, comprise just 48,000 people. But on a cheerier note, as trans youth charity Gender Intelligence tweeted, “One thing is certain: This shows that trans people are a small but significant community throughout England and Wales. We aren’t, as the headlines sometimes suggest, urban elite or political radicals. We are neighbours, colleagues, friends and family, all across the nations.”

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