Danny Dyer says he is ‘petrified’ by rise in ‘homophobia and racism’ in the UK
"I don’t know why we’ve digressed so much as human beings," said Dyer
By Aaron Sugg
Actor Danny Dyer has spoken out against the current rise in homophobia in the UK, saying the government needs a “reset”.
The One Last Deal star has long been vocal in his support for the LGBTQ+ community, receiving widespread praise, particularly for his role as Mick Carter in EastEnders.
Dyer portrayed Mick in the BBC soap opera as the stereotypical heterosexual landlord of the Queen Victoria pub. In 2014, his on-screen son Johnny came out as gay to him, with Dyer praised by viewers for his accepting response.
“That just really touches me” – Danny Dyer on his EastEnders storyline with on-screen gay son
Speaking to NewstalkFM in 2025, he said that the storyline still has an impact: “The amount of people that came out the next day, because whatever I represent, I don’t know, it’s not tangible.”
“I still have young men come up to me and say, ‘Oh, I came out the next day to my dad, it was fine,’ and that just really touches me in a way and I go, ‘Wow’. That’s a powerful platform.”
Dyer is the latest star to pose for the Rolling Stone UK cover, where he continued to affirm his LGBTQ+ ally status.
“Misogyny, sexism, homophobia and racism are all on the rise again” – Dyer slamming recent politics in the UK
“Misogyny, sexism, homophobia and racism are all on the rise again. We’ve regressed as human beings, so we need some sort of reset, don’t we?” he told Rolling Stone UK.
He spoke about the current political landscape targeting minority groups: “We’re just so fucking divided right now. The working classes, no matter what colour your skin is, are fighting each other and the elites are taking the fucking piss.
“It’s petrifying, to be honest with you. I don’t know why we’ve digressed so much as human beings,” Dyer continued.
The current political climate affecting the LGBTQ+ community, particularly, the trans community
In recent years, the LGBTQ+ community, particularly the trans community, have faced significant threats, including the April 2025 Supreme Court ruling, stating that “sex” in the Equality Act 2010 refers to biological sex.
More recently, NHS England paused new prescriptions of cross-sex hormones for trans youth, following the Cass Review in 2024.
Professor James Palmer, national medical director for Specialised Services at NHS England, said: “Following the Cass review, NHS England commissioned an in-depth review of all available clinical evidence for using oestrogen or testosterone, either alone or with other medications, to treat gender incongruence and dysphoria.”
He added: “This review has established that the available evidence does not support the continued use of masculinising or feminising hormones to treat gender incongruence or dysphoria for young people under 18.”
For more information on hormone therapy and gender dysphoria, please visit the NHS England website.
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