LGBT+ people most likely to feel politically unheard in the UK, landmark study finds

• More than half (56%) of LGBT+ people say the UK Government does not consider people like them, major UK study into belonging finds
• LGBT+ respondents are more likely than people who are heterosexual to report being lonely (42% vs 27%)
• LGBT+ people are less likely to have a sense of belonging to their neighbourhood and to know their neighbours well than general population

London, UK, 13 March 2026 – LGBT+ people in the UK are the most likely group to feel politically ignored and to report a weaker sense of belonging in everyday life, a major new report by the Belonging Forum published today has found.

The 2026 Belonging Barometer is the Belonging Forum’s third annual report examining belonging in the UK, looking at people’s connections to others, to the places they live, to the institutions and systems that shape their lives, and to meaning and purpose in everyday life. The findings draw on a nationally representative survey of 10,000 adults conducted by Opinium.

The report found people who identify as LGBT+ are the most likely to feel politically unheard, highlighting a gap in belonging when it comes to voice and representation in public life. More than half (56%) of LGBT+ respondents say the Government considers people like them “not very much” or “not at all.”

Just 13% of LGBT+ respondents say the UK Government considers people like them “all or most of the time”.

A third (33%) of LGBT+ adults in the UK think their local council represents their views and interests as a voter badly, compared to 24% of 25-24 year old age group.

The 2026 Belonging Barometer uncovered that this political divide is also mirrored by weaker social connections.

Over two in five (42%) LGBT+ respondents report experiencing loneliness often or always, compared to 27% of people who are heterosexual.

Belonging to the place they live also shows a clear divide. Nearly three in five heterosexual respondents (58%) say they strongly belong to their neighbourhood or street, compared with 45% of LGBT+ respondents. LGBT+ respondents are among the least likely demographics in the UK to report a strong connection to their local area.

The report found the same inequality in belonging is seen in day-to-day community ties, with 54% of LGBT+ respondents saying that they do not know their neighbours well compared with 40% of the general population.

The Belonging Forum says the findings reveal a consistent belonging gap for LGBT+ people, with weaker outcomes across wellbeing, neighbourhood connection and political trust.

Kim Samuel, Founder of the Belonging Forum, said:

“Most people in the UK feel politics is not listening, but our polling shows LGBT+ people bear that disconnection most sharply of any group in our research.

“Belonging is the sense that you count, your voice matters and you can shape the world around you. When public debate turns your identity into an argument rather than listening to lived experience, and discussions about your community too often happen without you, it becomes harder to be truly at home – both in your neighbourhood and your country

“This consistent belonging gap must be closed, which means creating a society where LGBT+ people are considered and genuinely included in the decisions that shape their everyday life and communities.”

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITOR

For media inquiries and interviews, or further information, please contact: press@belongingforum.com

About the Belonging Barometer:

• The research was carried out by Opinium on behalf of the Belonging Forum and surveyed a nationally representative sample of 10,001 UK adults. The survey was conducted between 1^st and 17^th December 2025.
• From the nationally representative sample the weighted numbers breakdown was:
  • 8610 people reported to be heterosexual or straight
  • 831 people reported to be gay or lesbian, bisexual or other
• Estimates of the number of people affected are based on the latest mid-year population estimates, which put the UK adult (18+) population at 55,022,253.
• Estimated population figures are therefore calculated by applying survey percentages to the latest UK mid-year adult population estimates, and are indicative estimates based on the nationally representative sample
• The polling analysed figures from the general population and broken down by demographics including gender, age, socioeconomic status, and working status.
• The full findings of the third edition of the Belonging Barometer can be viewed here.

About the Belonging Forum

The Belonging Forum is a global non-profit advancing the right to belong – a birthright that connects us to one another, to the places we call home, to the systems that shape our lives, and to a shared sense of purpose.

We bring together research, advocacy, and action to ensure belonging is embedded in policies, institutions, and everyday life. Through collaboration with thought leaders, community builders, and changemakers around the world, we turn ideas into impact and build a world where everyone can flourish.

The Belonging Forum was founded by Kim Samuel – activist, author, educator, and leading voice in the global movement for belonging.