New research shows OVER 1-in-3 LGBTQ+ Londoners often experience loneliness due to lack of relatable stories in public domain.
This weekend marks the annual London Pride event – the parade which has now swelled to one of the largest Pride celebrations in the world. However, for most of London’s history, people who defied conventional standards of romantic relationships lived hidden lives out of fear of prosecution. That is why, today, there is an acknowledged need for unveiling those hidden accounts to promote a more accepting society. Landmark research from the leading international biography-writing service, StoryTerrace, highlights the importance that these stories have in breaking the persistent stigma faced by many LGBTQ+ Londoners.
- 36% of Londoners agree that as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community they have often felt lonely because they didn’t hear about people who were going through similar things to themselves
- 48% of LGBTQ+ people say that writing about their experiences in a creative way has allowed them to understand themselves better
- 43% of LGBTQ+ people say they are more comfortable writing about their experiences rather than talking about them
- 65% of LGBTQ+ people say that reading stories they can relate to has a positive impact on their mental health
Specifically, their unique study revealed that over 1-in-3 (36%) LGBTQ+ Londoners often feel lonely because they haven’t heard about people who’ve experienced similar things to themselves. StoryTerrace’s research comes at a time when the mental health of the community is worsening rapidly, with reports suggesting half of the LGBTQ+ people in London have experienced a common mental health issue in the last year.
In the fight to encourage visibility in the community, create a platform for the LGBTQ+ trailblazers and raise awareness of the engrained disparities still entrenched in London – StoryTerrace’s research underlines the power of writing and recording stories as a vehicle for widespread acceptance as 48% of people in the LGBTQ+ community feel this would help them feel more understood.
Rutger Bruining, Founder of StoryTerrace, discusses the benefits of sharing real stories from within the LGBTQIA+ community for future generations:
“LGBTQIA+ representation has a long history of being completely erased from the history books. This erasure and underrepresentation can cause many to feel disconnected from their own history, and experience feelings of loneliness, isolation, and exclusion. Sadly, in most cases, it has been found that personal diaries are all we have in terms of proof that queer identities existed in history.”
“When more LGBTQIA+ accounts are documented and shared, this renders visibility that contributes to society’s acceptance of people from all sexual orientations and identities. Therefore, it’s crucial to document these stories now, to show people in the future that there are people like them and that their stories matter.”
“One of the key benefits of writing a biography is how it brings people closer to their family, their history, and a better understanding of who they really are. If future generations can see similarities to themselves in past generations, it can encourage a greater sense of belonging, self-worth, and pride. For us, it is not just about documenting one’s story, it is about cementing your identity by connecting you with your past.”
