LGBT rights

We have always been champions of LGBT+ people and their equal human rights, from our 19th century advocacy challenging religious homophobia to our recent successful campaigns for same-sex marriage and inclusive Relationships and Sex Education. Humanists stand in opposition to homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia.

Our dedicated community section, LGBT+ Humanists, has been around since 1979 and has been a consistent champion of the rights of LGBT+ people, and takes the lead in much of our LGBT+ activism.

Love is the beginning, middle, and end of human liberation.

Peter Tatchell, human rights campaigner and humanist

Only by learning to love one another can our world be saved. Only love can conquer all.

Dora Russell, humanist writer and campaigner 

Relevant policies

Banning conversion practices

Many LGBT people have experienced so-called ‘conversion practices’ – also known as ‘conversion therapy’ – particularly from religious settings. This has attempted to ‘cure’ them…

Census and national data

Data about the UK’s religious and non-religious demographic makeup is often misrepresented in public discourse due to the use of a leading question in the…

Employment in faith schools

Religious state schools discriminate against employees based on religion.

Ending Equality Act exemptions

The Equality Act 2010, which applies in Britain, contains a number of exceptions that allow religious organisations to discriminate against those of other beliefs or…

Equality law loopholes for public services

Public services are sometimes contracted out to be run by religious groups, which can discriminate against service users and employees due to loopholes in equality…

Human rights and access to justice

Our human rights laws have loopholes that need closing, and for many people are too hard to access. At the same time, they are under…

Legal recognition of humanist marriages

Humanist marriages are not legally recognised in England and Wales.

Relationships and Sex Education

Opt-outs built into relationships and sex education (RSE) mean that many children are not receiving fact-based, objective teaching about sex and relationships. Others aren’t receiving…