Publication - Research and analysis

Non-binary people's experiences in Scotland: evidence review

Published: 22 November 2024
Directorate: Tackling Child Poverty and Social Justice Directorate
Topic: Equality and rights
ISBN: 9781836019848

Presents evidence which offers useful insight into the experiences of non-binary people in Scotland. Primarily, the evidence suggests that non-binary people face discrimination in multiple sectors of society such as education, communities, work, benefits and housing.

Supporting documents

Footnotes

i More robust and comprehensive data and evidence will be gathered on the characteristics and experiences of non-binary people in Scotland

ii To use a trans person’s birthname after they have changed their name as part of their transition.

iii This survey used a self-selected sample and is not representative of the UK population.

iv For further information, please see Annex A – Glossary of Terms: Multiply Marginalised/ Intersectionality

v Since this study was published the Gender Identity Development Services in England have closed and gender identity services are now provided regionally,

vi See page 11 for details

vii This study was completed by 1261 LGBT people in Scotland, of which 6% described their gender in another way including “non-binary”, “genderfluid” and “genderqueer”.

viii This survey had 697 eligible responses, 34% identified as non-binary.

ix Between February and April 2017, 5,375 lesbian, gay, bi and trans (LGBT) people across England, Scotland and Wales completed an online questionnaire about their life in Britain today, which was administered by YouGov on behalf of Stonewall. The overall sample size of participants who are trans and/or non-binary is 871. Unless stated otherwise, findings reported for 'trans people' refer to respondents who identified themselves as trans (total sample 733 respondents), which includes trans people who identified themselves also as non-binary; findings reported for 'non-binary people' refer to all those who identified themselves as non-binary (total sample 414 respondents), of whom two thirds identify also as trans. 65 per cent of trans and non-binary respondents are from England, 18 per cent are from Wales and 17 per cent are from Scotland

10 Gender reassignment discrimination | Equality and Human Rights Commission (equalityhumanrights.com)

11 Intersex people | OHCHR

12 Equality outcomes and mainstreaming report 2023 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

13 What is meant by the concept of 'intersectionality'? - Using intersectionality to understand structural inequality in Scotland: evidence synthesis - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)