The Disability Assistance (Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance) Regulations 2025: equality impact assessment

13. Sexual orientation

In 2019, around 3% of people in Scotland identified their sexual orientation as 'lesbian', 'gay', 'bisexual' or other.^[37] This is likely to be an under-report, as younger people are more likely to self-identify their sexual orientation in surveys than older people.^[38] In 2021, 17% of those who identified as gay, lesbian or bisexual had experienced discrimination, compared to 8% who identified as straight.^[39]

A report by the Equality Network found that disabled people who identify as LGBT were more likely to experience discrimination than LGBT people without a disability. 59% of disabled LGBT people had experienced prejudice or discrimination within the last month at the time of publication in 2015, compared to 47% of non-disabled LGBT individuals.^[40]

The Scottish Government is committed to engaging with this group to build a service that meets their needs. 9% of Social Security Experience Panel members identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual and have been actively involved in the design of Social Security Scotland's services.^[41]

Social Security Scotland staff will embody the values of dignity, fairness and respect. All training for staff will include inclusivity awareness and be underpinned by human rights principles.