This Sunday, I will be attending my first UK Black Pride. On the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots, I’m aware that I’m taking part in something that is built upon the shoulders of LGBT+ people, many of them people of colour, who were at the Stonewall Inn in 1969 and sparked the LGBT+ revolution. As someone who only came out as bi this year, I’m excited to be in a safe space for LGBT+ ethnic minorities. This year might also be the last year that the UK is part of the EU if Brexiteers get their way.
The last few years have exposed the institutional racism that exists in the UK- the increase in targeted stop and searches, the revelation of the Windrush scandal, or the clear discrimination that exists in the education/labour market. And judging by the increase in the hate crimes towards ethnic minorities and members of the LGBT+ community since the 2016 EU referendum, I have no faith that things are going to get any better if Brexit happens.
Brexit puts the economic welfare of the ethnic minority LGBT+ communities at risk. Ethnic minorities and people who identify as LGBT+ are already economically worse off. LGBT+ employees earn more than £6,700 less than heterosexual workers meanwhile, ethnic minority employees are losing out on £3.2billion a year in wages. If you’re both an ethnic minority and identify as LGBT+, then it’s a double whammy. The rate for ethnic minority LGBT+ employees losing their job because of their sexual or gender identity was three times higher than for white LGBT+ staff. The economic risks of Brexit have been well documented, but LGBT voters are more pessimistic about the impact of Brexit on Britain’s economy, whilst ethnic minorities are worried about the impact of Brexit on their career prospects. The economic and career prospects for ethnic minority LGBT+ people do not look bright in Brexit Britain.
Unfortunately, Brexit doesn’t just risk our economic situation, but also our health. Over 20% of ethnic minorities - and half of LGBT+ people have experienced mental health disorders. This is particularly worrying as 28% of the LGBT+ community who accessed or tried to access mental health services said that it was” not easy at all.” Ethnic minorities and members of the LGBT+ community were also likely to experience higher dissatisfaction with health services in comparison to their white counterparts, or people who don’t identify as LGBT+.
There is also the risk that Brexit may compromise the supply of new HIV drugs to the UK, which would disproportionately impact ethnic minorities who are overrepresented when it comes to HIV care. With the damage that Brexit is already doing to the NHS, it leaves little hope that the health of ethnic minority members of the LGBT+ community is going to get any better if we leave the EU.
But we are able to reduce these economic and healthcare risks, if the power is put back to the people:the people are given the final say on Brexit. We shouldn’t just try to get Brexit over and done with like the Tory leadership candidates want - not when it means that things could get worse for marginalised communities. That’s why I work for LGBT+ for a People’s Vote and Ethnic Minorities for a People’s Vote.
Pride is a protest. And this year at UK Black Pride, I’ll be protesting the negative repercussions that Brexit risks for me and people in my communities – ethnic minorities and the LGBT+ community. I’ll be campaigning for a public vote on any Brexit deal. The impact of Brexit on us has been ignored for too long. It’s time to say ‘let us be heard’.
Lauren Pemberton-Nelson is an activist with LGBT+ for a People’s Vote and Ethnic Minorities for a People’s Vote