Liberate launches landmark survey on LGBTQ+ life in the Channel Islands

Channel Islands equality charity Liberate has appealed to LGBTQ+ residents and former residents to share their experiences in a new survey, amid what it describes as a rise in “hate” and dehumanising rhetoric.

The Channel Islands LGBTQ+ Community Survey aims to create the first comprehensive data set on LGBTQ+ lives across the islands. Ellie Jones, CEO of Liberate Guernsey, said the charity wanted to move beyond anecdotal reports.

“Other places like the UK and US are obviously really bad at the minute, and things we’re hearing about here are mostly anecdotal so we wanted to get a proper understanding,” Jones said, according to the BBC.

Using criteria from LGBTQ+ rights organisation ILGA-Europe, Liberate estimates that Guernsey would place 32nd out of 50 European jurisdictions because of gaps in basic equality legislation when compared with most of Europe.

Jones reported more frequent cases of “dehumanisation, hate, and exclusion” of LGBTQ+ people in recent years. She linked this to political and media narratives originating in the UK and US.

“The knock-on effect of this imported rhetoric locally is very obvious when you overhear conversations or look at local comments on social media,” she said.

Liberate pointed to figures from the UK Office for National Statistics, which reported in December that 3.7% of people aged 16 or over identified as LGB in the UK. Based on population data from Statistics Jersey and Guernsey’s Facts and Figures booklet, the charity estimates that more than 6,000 Channel Islanders are LGBTQ+ if local proportions align with the UK.

“Since we know a lot of LGBTQ+ people leave the Channel Islands, we wanted to keep the survey open to all Channel Islanders, even if you’ve left,” Jones added.

The charity stressed that Pride Month continues to play a vital role in the islands and beyond. Liberate Guernsey noted that a UK government petition is open during Pride month calling for a public inquiry into the impact of Section 28, the former legislation that restricted the “promotion” of homosexuality by local authorities.

“Pride Month is still necessary because, despite some advancements, Section 28 is still so recent and its impacts are still strongly felt – particularly for those of us who lived through it,” Jones said. “Unfortunately, our human rights are still under threat. Erasure and inequality still exist. As does massive stigma, misconceptions, and scapegoating. We are under attack again and still can’t just exist in peace and dignity.”

Survey participants can choose to enter a prize draw for tickets to Channel Islands Pride 2026 events.

Liberate’s call for evidence highlights how robust data, visible community life and supportive workplaces all contribute to LGBTQ+ equality; those who want to connect with inclusive employers and professional networks can also take practical action by signing up for myGwork.