19 July 2023 , 12:41
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The top things that help LGBTQ+ adults feel accepted by their loved ones include feeling able to talk openly about their love life (29%) – and being treated “normally”, as if nothing has changed (35%).
Other acts of kindness which go a long way include friends or family being willing to stand up for them, if necessary (27%) – and simply being invited over for dinner (17%), or being made a cup of tea (13%).
It comes as a survey of 1,000 adults, in the LGBTQ+ community, found nearly a third (31%) feel they were treated differently after coming out to their friends or family.
Three in ten have faced issues with family members due to their sexuality or gender identity, while 39% have fallen out with, or lost touch with, friends as a result.
And 22% have been left feeling heartbroken when they stopped getting invited to things – by someone they were previously close to.
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As a result, almost a quarter (23%) have felt bad about themselves, due to other people not accepting them – and 63% find it difficult to understand why their loved ones can't accept them for who they are.
Over a third just want to be treated the same as they were before coming out, as if nothing has changed (SWNS)However, despite the struggles they have faced, 41% said their relationship with other friends and family members is as strong as ever.
Other small acts of love which made people feel loved and accepted included little things like doing household chores together, or being told how nice they look (both 12%).
Ayca Turgay, brand communications director at Procter & Gamble, which commissioned the research as part of its Spread the Love campaign for Fairy and Ariel, said: “It is often small acts of love and kindness from those closest to us that go a long way.
“That’s why this year, we’re focusing on these small daily acts to support the LGBTQ+ community. We are committed to Spreading The Love through the little things, as well as shining a light on real stories from the community.
“Small acts of love can feed into our day-to-day lives, and have a long-lasting impact. When someone washes up your plate for you, or makes you a cup of tea, or puts the washing away, it makes you feel loved – and for the LGBTQ+ community, these things can mean so much more in their journey to acceptance.
“As part of our continued support, we’re donating a further £70,000 to the charity akt, bringing our total donation amount to £320,000, in order to help people feel safe and comfortable in their homes and their communities.”
But nearly two-thirds of LGBTQ+ adults struggle to understand why friends and family can't accept them for who they are (SWNS)The study also found that 27% of respondents were sad to see others talking negatively about them to other people – while the same number were told outright their identity was disagreeable.
And two-thirds find it upsetting when negative statements about their sexuality or gender identity are passed off as “banter”, according to the figures from Fairy and Ariel.
However, 48% feel anyone who doesn’t accept them as they were never a true friend to them anyway – with 28% believing those who are prejudiced against those in the LGBTQ+ community are to be pitied, not argued with.
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It also emerged 41% said coming out was a bit harder than they expected, according to the OnePoll.com data.
Ayca Turgay added: “We are committed to becoming more inclusive, and our acceptance of others doesn’t always need to be a grand act.
“Small acts of love can make just as much of a difference in making others feel loved and accepted for who they are – especially to people in the community and charities who support them, like akt.”
TOP 25 WAYS PEOPLE IN THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY HAVE FELT ACCEPTED BY LOVED ONES:
- People acting normal around you, as if nothing has changed
- Feeling you can talk about your love life
- People tell you they love you
- People stand up for you in difficult situations
- People include your partner when there are get-togethers
- People say they only want you to be happy
- You are able to have deep conversations with loved ones about relationships
- Feeling a general sense of relief
- People tell you outright they don't care about sexuality/gender identity
- People are happy to talk openly in front of the children in the family
- People show physical affection e.g. a big hug
- People are interested in your love life
- People ask if they can come to a Pride event
- People make light-hearted fun of you for it (in the same way they'd make fun of you for anything else)
- People ask if there is anything they could do better to make you feel happy and included
- You're given more emotional support than usual
- You're invited over for dinner
- The children of the family don't know what the fuss is about
- Older members of the family are told about your gender/sexual identity
- Friends are told about your gender/sexual identity
- People make you a cup of tea
- People have thought of great ways to explain what's going on to children in the family
- You do household chores together like normal
- People tell you you look nice
- People help you to get ready for a big event