East Coast Pride Publishes Landmark Survey of LGBTQIA+ Life in Lincolnshire, Finding That More Than Half Have Considered Leaving the County
- East Coast Pride
- 4 minutes ago
- 3 min read
New research reveals significant safety, isolation, and healthcare challenges for LGBTQIA+ residents across rural and coastal Lincolnshire, alongside near-universal demand for greater local provision.
East Coast Pride has today published the Lincolnshire LGBTQIA+ & Allies Survey 2026 Report, one of the most detailed local studies ever undertaken into the lived experiences of LGBTQIA+ people and their allies in rural and coastal Lincolnshire. The research, conducted in partnership with Skegness Pride in Place Board, gathered 385 responses from residents aged 16 and over between 7 January and 27 February 2026.
The study covers identity and openness, safety and hate incidents, healthcare access, economic wellbeing, social connection, and the particular challenges of LGBTQIA+ life in rural and coastal communities, alongside the perspectives of allies and family members.
Download the report in full
A digital version, alongside other publications, is also available on our Yumpu profile.
Safety: Mixed Perceptions Across Environments
Across 238 respondents, the average safety score was 3.21 out of 5. While 46.2% reported feeling safe or very safe in general environments, one in four reported feeling unsafe in some settings, rising sharply in night-time environments, where only 34% of respondents felt safe in town centres after dark and 41% reported feeling unsafe or very unsafe.
Around three in five respondents (59.7%) reported avoiding public displays of affection at least sometimes due to concerns about negative reactions. Trans respondents consistently reported lower safety perceptions across all environments, scoring 2.82 on average in town centres at night compared to 3.18 for cisgender respondents.
Despite a substantial proportion experiencing negative incidents, with verbal harassment the most common, reported by 59 respondents, the vast majority did not report incidents to the police, most frequently citing the belief that the incident was not serious enough.
Isolation and Community Connection
The findings reveal a significant isolation challenge. Only 8.2% of respondents described themselves as strongly connected to the LGBTQIA+ community in Lincolnshire, while 57.3% said they felt either not very connected or not connected at all. Friends (69.3%) and family (57.4%) remain the primary sources of support, with local LGBTQIA+ organisations selected by only 11.6% of respondents.
Frequent loneliness is reported by 32.7% of respondents overall, rising to 51% among bisexual respondents and 52% among trans respondents. Bisexual respondents also recorded the lowest life satisfaction scores (mean 4.98 out of 10) among the larger identity groups, compared to a survey average of 5.69, itself below the UK Government’s National LGBT Survey benchmark of 6.48.
“Life in rural and coastal areas can be very different from life in large cities. Lincolnshire’s geography, dispersed communities, and access to services shape how people experience daily life, and it is vital that local evidence exists to inform local decision making.” Amy Basker, Chair of the Board of Trustees, East Coast Pride
Rural Life: Challenges and a Clear Desire for Change
The most commonly cited structural challenges linked to living in Lincolnshire were:
Limited LGBTQIA+ spaces - 42% of respondents
Transport or travel barriers - 38%
Conservative or unwelcoming attitudes - 37%
Lack of social opportunities - 35%
Isolation or difficulty meeting others - 31%
A majority of respondents (54.5%) have considered leaving Lincolnshire, with even higher rates among pansexual (64.7%), lesbian (61.7%), and bisexual (58.0%) respondents. Nearly two in three of those who answered the relevant question (64.9%) travel outside the county for LGBTQIA+ spaces, events, services, or community, with over a third citing a safer or more welcoming environment as a reason.
Despite this picture, an overwhelming 91% of respondents want to see more LGBTQIA+ opportunities, spaces, and events available locally in Lincolnshire, with support consistently high across every area and identity group.
Allies Face Pressure Too
The survey’s inclusion of allies and family members, who represent approximately a third (33%) of the full sample, reveals that allyship itself can carry social costs. Nearly a quarter (23%) of ally respondents reported feeling isolated, judged, or criticised because they support an LGBTQIA+ person, with respondents frequently describing dismissive comments or discomfort when LGBTQIA+ issues were raised.
Media Enquiries
Brad Johnson, Secretary & Trustee: brad.johnson@eastcoastpride.co.uk
About East Coast Pride
East Coast Pride (Charity Number: 1210722) is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation founded in late 2024 to champion equality, celebrate identity, and strengthen wellbeing for LGBTQIA+ people across the rural and coastal communities of Lincolnshire.
If you would like to find out more about how you can support East Coast Pride and explore our sponsorship opportunities, please visit our website: www.eastcoastpride.co.uk/sponsorship
About the Research Partners
The Skegness Pride in Place Board, chaired by Mr Paul McCooey FCA BCOMM, and Connected Coast supported the research as partners, providing civic leadership, local reach, and commitment to evidence-led community planning.
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