Six in 10 LGBTQ+ adults don't feel accepted by some of their closest friends and family - due to their gender identity or sexuality.<br /><br />A poll of 1,000 people, within the LGBTQ+ community, found 39 per cent had fallen out, or lost touch, with friends as a result, while 30 per cent had issues with family members.<br /><br />And 63 per cent found it difficult to understand why their loved ones couldn't accept them for who they are.<br /><br />But despite falling out with some people, 41 per cent said their relationship with other friends and family members is as strong as ever.<br /><br />People in the community knew they had been accepted by loved ones when they were being treated exactly the same - as if nothing had changed (35 per cent).<br /><br />For 29 per cent, feeling confident in talking about their love life was a small act which made a big difference and 27 per cent appreciated someone standing up for them, if necessary.<br /><br />Other small acts of love which made people feel loved and accepted included doing household chores together (12 per cent) or making someone a cup of tea (13 per cent).<br /><br />Others said it was the simple things, like being invited over for dinner (17 per cent) or telling you how nice you look (12 per cent) which mean the most.<br /><br />Ayca Turgay, brand communications director at Procter & Gamble, which commissioned the research as part of its Spread the Love campaign [https://www.supersavvyme.co.uk/] for Fairy and Ariel, said: "It is often small acts of love and kindness from those closest to us that go a long way.<br /><br />“That’s why this year, we’re focusing on these small daily acts to support the LGBTQ+ community.<br /><br />"We are committed to Spreading The Love through the little things, as well as shining a light on real stories from the community.<br /><br />“Small acts of love can feed into our day to day lives and have a long lasting impact.<br /><br />"When someone washes up your plate for you, or makes you a cup of tea, or puts the washing away it makes you feel loved and for the LGBTQ+ community, these things can mean so much more in their journey to acceptance.<br /><br />“As part of our continued support, we’re donating a further £70,000 to the charity akt, bringing our total donation amount to £320,000 in order to help people feel safe and comfortable in their homes and their communities.”<br /><br />The study found 31 per cent of respondents felt they were treated differently after coming out than before.<br /><br />While 27 per cent were sad to see others talking negatively about them to other people - and the same number were told outright their identity was disagreeable.<br /><br />And 22 per cent were left heartbroken when someone who was previously close to them simply stopped inviting them to things.<br /><br />However, 48 per cent feel anyone who doesn’t accept them as they were never a true friend to them anyway, with 28 per cent believing those who are prejudiced against those in the LGBTQ+ community are to be pitied, not argued with.<br /><br />Despite that, 23 per cent admit they do feel bad about themselves when some don’t accept them.
