The latest census (Census 2021) marked the first time that people of England and Wales were asked about their sexuality and gender identity. The figures that have now been released, reveal the most popular areas of Birmingham for those identifying their sexuality as something other than heterosexual (gay, lesbian, bisexual, pansexual, queer or other), and also provide some insight into figures for those who have a gender identity different from their sex registered at birth.
In the Local Authority District (LAD) of Birmingham, 3.01% of people aged 16 years and over are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or other. While 0.88% of people aged 16 years and over have a gender identity different from their sex registered at birth.
It is also possible to see which areas of Birmingham LAD are home to the most LGB+ people; these figures do not include trans and gender non-conforming people who did not also identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or other, as these figures were recorded separately.
At the top of the list of areas is Selly Oak, where 11.33% of people aged 16 years and over are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or other. Birmingham City Centre – home to Birmingham Gay Village – came second on the list of areas with a large LGB+ population with 10.21% of people (1 in 10) aged 16 years and over identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or other. Just below that is Digbeth, where 10.19% of people aged 16 years and over identity as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or other.
Other areas of Birmingham with large populations of lesbian, gay, bisexual and other sexualities include: Ladywood – Summer Hill (9.09% of people), Edgbaston South & University (8.61%), Bournville East & Stirchley West (6.65%), Stirchley North & Selly Park (6.45%).
When it comes to people aged 16+ who have a gender identity different from their sex registered at birth, in Central Birmingham this made up 0.96% of the population. In Ladywood – Summer Hill 1.14% of people aged 16 and over have a gender identity different from their sex registered at birth, while in Selly Oak, the figure is 1.10% of the population.
