These were the biggest moments for LGBT people in 2015

Queer people of colour and trans actors have finally become visible - but hate crime is up, LGBT asylum seekers have been viewed with suspicion and sex education still fails to be LGBT-friendly

Russell T Davies is filming a follow up to the pioneering ‘Queer As Folk’ (Channel 4)

What was 2015 like for queer people around the world? Truthfully, it’s been a mixed bag. Equal marriage has spread across the world, yet hate crime is up. Trans people and queer people of colour have gained more media visibility, yet austerity measures have disproportionately struck those very communities. And queer people are still more likely to face homelessness and violence - even while tolerance increases.

But let’s begin with the achievements.

Equal marriage

Back in May, Ireland became the first country in the world to legalise equal marriage by referendum. This turned the issue into a buzzing national movement, and many Irish citizens living around the world headed home to vote. 62 per cent voted in favour.

In June, the US Supreme Court ruled that limiting marriage to straight couples violated constitutional equality protections. Similar victories were won in Mexico, Greenland and Finland. Civil partnerships were introduced in Cyprus, Greece and four districts in Japan.

Transgender equality inquiry

Although the 2010 Equality Act provides protection on grounds gender reassignment, trans people continue to face a barrage of legal and social injustices. So it’s encouraging that MPs in the Women and Equalities Committee have launched a landmark inquiry to investigate transphobia in education, the NHS and the justice system.

Queer people of colour on screen

Most soaps today include white gay or lesbian characters, and series like London Spy and films like Carol are no longer rare. Yet queer people of colour have often been either erased (like in the Stonewall film) or relegated to the trope of ‘being stuck between two irreconcilable identities’.

This year, complex and varied representations have begun to emerge. How to Get Away with Murder’s anti-hero lead Annalise Keating’s bisexuality was naturally woven into the script, with no added focus or fanfare. Aziz Ansari’s Master of None and Russell T Davies’ Cucumber and Banana featured a range of black queer characters. The Great British Bake Off’s Tamal Ray added to the few openly gay celebrities of colour.

Trans actors in trans roles

Despite more trans characters on screen recently, they’ve often been played by cisgender actors (The Danish Girl, Transparent and Coronation Street). Orange is the New Black’s Laverne Cox has been an exception.

This September, the BBC aired Boy Meets Girl, the first UK sitcom starring a trans actor, Rebecca Root, in a lead role. Trans actor Riley Millington was cast as Kyle in Eastenders, and Annie Wallace as Sally in Hollyoaks.

Non-binary inclusion

Non-binary people, who identify neither as female nor male, have long been marginalised, even within the queer community. Although recent trans victories are encouraging, such as increasing political support and more out celebrities, Alok Maid-Vernon writes that only those who fit into strict binary categories are celebrated. Those who don’t are regarded as “disposable” and met with disgust.

This year’s increasing understanding of non-binary pronouns (like ‘they’ instead of ‘she’ or ‘he’), especially at universities, is a step forward. So is the parliamentary Early Day Motion calling for the legal recognition of non-binary people, which has gathered 43 MP signatures so far.

Queer MPs

The UK set a world record in electing 32 openly lesbian, gay and bisexual MPs to Parliament, who now make up 4.9 per cent of the house. However, only six are women, all are white and none are trans.

And now for the negative developments.

Austerity

One of the biggest setbacks for queer liberation in the UK this year was the election of a Conservative government, committed to an extensive austerity agenda. Queer people make up 24 per cent of young homeless people, and cuts to local authorities are making it harder to provide emergency housing. Homeless queer people are more vulnerable to mental health problems, sexual exploitation and violence.

Plans to abolish housing benefits for under-21s will make more young people homeless, or force them into staying with transphobic or homophobic families. Cuts to sexual and mental health services are having a disproportionate effect on on queer people.

Queer voluntary and community organisations that provide help are also having their budgets slashed; some up to 50 per cent.

Trans prisoners

The past two months have seen the deaths of two trans women in all-male jails. On 13 November, Vikki Thompson, who told friends she would kill herself if sent to the Armley men’s prison, was found dead in her cell.

Joanne Latham, another trans prisoner, was found dead in Woodhill prison on 27 November. In October, Tara Hudson, who was serving a 12 week sentence in the all-male Bristol prison, was moved to Eastwood Park, after 150,000 people signed a petition. She says she was so frightened of rape that she had considered taking her own life.

These cases demonstrate the urgent need for a review of prison policy, which currently states that prisoners must be placed “according to their legally recognised gender”. New recommendations are due to be released early next year.

Hate crime

Police forces in England and Wales have recorded a 22 per cent rise this year in homophobic hate crimes (5597), and a 9 per cent increase in transphobic hate crimes.

Although some of the increase can be explained by victims being more confident in coming forward, these figures only represent a small fraction of the total number of hate crimes committed, showing it remains a real, pressing issue.

Those who are both queer and women, ethnic minorities or disabled are at even greater threat.

Queer asylum seekers

Despite moves to stop the deportation of queer asylum seekers at risk of imprisonment, torture or execution, the UK asylum process still renders them “guilty until proven innocent”.

Some have claimed that they are asked “inappropriate, shocking and highly sexualised questions” and expected to provide unreasonable evidence for their claims. Recently, gay Ugandan Robert Kityo faced deportation for “failing to prove his sexuality”. BuzzFeed reports that queer asylum seekers have experienced threats, abuse and sexual assault in detention centres.

So it’s been a mixed year. Although there have been strides in political and media representation, in order to ensure that liberation works for everyone—regardless of class, race, gender or disability—we need to redouble our efforts against austerity, and in favour of justice reforms. Making education and sex education queer-inclusive, as a tool against homophobia and transphobia, must also be at the top of our agenda.

As these debates become more mainstream, I hope the momentum we've gained can propel the queer liberation movement forward in 2016.