LGBT Identification Rises to 5.6% in Latest U.S. Estimate

[DonViejo]

Source: Gallup


BY JEFFREY M. JONES

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

* Estimate has risen more than one percentage point from 2017 update
* Majority of LGBT Americans say they are bisexual
* One in six adults in Generation Z consider themselves LGBT

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Gallup's latest update on lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender identification finds 5.6% of U.S. adults identifying as LGBT. The current estimate is up from 4.5% in Gallup's previous update based on 2017 data.



Currently, 86.7% of Americans say they are heterosexual or straight, and 7.6% do not answer the question about their sexual orientation. Gallup's 2012-2017 data had roughly 5% "no opinion" responses.

The latest results are based on more than 15,000 interviews conducted throughout 2020 with Americans aged 18 and older. Gallup had previously reported annual updates from its 2012-2017 daily tracking survey data, but did not routinely measure LGBT identification in 2018 or 2019.

The identity question asked in 2020 offers a greater level of detail than the question asked in previous years. Now, respondents indicate their precise sexual orientation, rather than simply answering "yes" or "no" to whether they identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.

Read more: https://news.gallup.com/poll/329708/lgbt-identification-rises-latest-estimate.aspx

[muriel_volestrangler]

3. "they too have identity crises"??? (nt)

[bucolic_frolic]

4. Yes, but a different kind

rudderless. Angry, but rudderless.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

5. Rudderless? What OP or Study are you commenting on?

Are you thinking the 5.6% are rudderless? Or is it the other 94.4%?

[muriel_volestrangler]

6. I'm questioning where you've found the "first" identity crisis (nt)

[bucolic_frolic]

9. Yeah, I see what you mean

it's an awkward way of phrasing it, and an outdated lens to view LGBT orientation.

A weak sense of self is what I'm saying. Society teaches us to look outside ourselves. External validation, exploitable for economic reasons. I should prob delete my post.

[greenjar_01]

2. 10-15% undercount

[speak easy]

12. 16% of Gen Z identify as LGBTQ

2% of Baby Boomers.

[keopeli]

7. If this includes bisexuals, it is an enormous undercount.

According to Kinsey (and just rational thought), most people are bisexual to some degree. A real number would reflect about 15% that are straight, 15% that are gay or lesbian, 50% that are bisexual, and 20% that are another category.

While the number seems to be increasing, that just means more people are being honest with themselves and others.

[greenjar_01]

8. That's literally what the B stands for in LGBTQ

[janterry]

10. More Millennials identify as transgender than lesbian

that's congruent w/ the sharp spike (1000-4000% rise) in biological teens/women that identify as transgender - in most western nations.

[Oneironaut]

15. Do you have a source for those stats? I'm curious.

I thought the “1000% - 4000%” stat was just the UK, and there was an alternate explanation for it? I’m willing to be proven wrong, though, given good data and a good source.

PS - It should also be known “transgender” also means different things to different people, e.g. non-binary people also fall under the trans umbrella. Is there specific criteria for this stat, or, is it just self-identification only? If so, who collected it, and what was the sample size? These statistics in themselves may not be meaningful information, as they invite certain conclusions that may not necessarily be correct.

[janterry]

16. It's right in that gallup poll, which is self-id

The 1000-4000 rise is true in UK, Australia, Canada and was true in Sweden. But in Sweden they have revised the way girls (and boys- though I am referring to girls in the rise) are referred to clinics because they thought the spike was too large to be explained by anything other than a social 'triggering' event (this is their interpretation). As a result, they sort of slowed things down and the spike has since come down. Their data is great, but it's not translated yet. It was published, however. I saw it in a summary from data presented by Louise Frisén, Chief Physician, Associate Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the KID (Stockholm) clinic for gender incongruence and gender dysphoria – delivered at a Swedish Medical Ethics Council Seminar February 6, 2020

We certainly believe there is a similar spike here in the USA, but it's hard to see the hard data (our healthcare delivery system is so disparate). However, the proliferation of clinics certainly puts us in that same 'camp.'

Editing (again, I always edit too much!) to add Finland is also studying why there is a spike in teen girls identifying as trans. Not sure when their report is expected

[Withywindle]

18. Millennials are not teens

Millennials are aged 25-40 now. Lots of Millennials have kids who are teenagers.

Also, when you say "girls" identifying as transgender, please rephrase that unless you mean trans girls. (Assigned Male at Birth). If you mean AFAB, they are trans boys.

[janterry]

20. that millennial comment is true

I suppose with more research will we understand why so many girls/teens (and young women) are identifying as trans

And the numbers on desisters/detransitioners (we know it's higher than we thought). How high? We just don't know

Other countries are clearly trying to figure this out. We have had very little research in this country. I await good science.

[Oneironaut]

21. The amount of detransitioners is thought to be very small, and most are due to social reasons.

That’s not to say detransitioners that are cis don’t exist or shouldn’t be supported. They deserve to be acknowledged as well.

Also, another important point - Teens may identify as trans without altering their body in any way, as it’s a matter of identification. “Trans” to some may also mean being non-binary with no gender dysphoria, e.g. just dressing androgynously and using they/them pronouns. It’s a big tent umbrella term.

Finally, is the explosion in people self-reporting as bi a social contagion as well? Aren’t those people already bi, but society has made it easier to admit it publicly? I suspect it’s the same thing with self-reported trans people.

[janterry]

23. it was thought to be small

but that was from an old study w/a small sample.

In the UK at one detransitioner meeting - hundreds showed up. One reporter who went, said that some of the young women showed up with the effects of testosterone (voice lowered, facial hair). Some who spoke had surgery on their breasts (and of course others spoke about genital surgery - and regret)

We just don't know. It would be REALLY nice if we did know. We have heard some of the staff at GIDS make quite alarming statements about parents who brought their kids there (remember, these are staff who want to work with gender dysphoria kids, not some clinician critical from outside the clinic). (They thought some parents would rather a transitioned kid than a gay one).

How true is that? And for how many kids? How can we know? One adult is writing about his transition (Scott Newgent - he has a recent article in Newsweek). He went through a full transition (woman to man) and has many regrets about the surgery. (He's just one person - but his experience of the surgery is very interesting).

And yes, some do nothing in terms of 'transition' (perhaps change name/dress). Others do more. We really need more (and better) information.

ETA: the woman who helped come up with the so-called 'dutch protocol' says it needs more examination
https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/146/4/e2020010611
She also writes: However, systematic studies on the rate of adolescents who discontinue their transitions after they have started affirming hormones or surgeries with lasting effects are lacking at present.

I know in my daughter's age group - many girls say they are bi-sexual, but seem to date only boys. (And of course many say they are bi and are - in fact - attracted to both sexes - this is just what I hear from my HS senior. So, that's not science. Just me being chatty .

[Withywindle]

25. Why so focused only on AFAB youth?

Lots of AMAB youth are coming out as trans girls too. I believe the numbers are about the same.

Do you know any trans people? I do, several. They're around my age, Gen X, so in their 40s and early 50s. Most have been living in their true gender for decades by now; one came out relatively recently.

Maybe talk to some instead of treating them as some weird alien phenomenon that needs to be analyzed from the outside. Learn from their experiences.

[janterry]

26. Because the spike is seen disproportionately

among girls (not boys).

That focus is from several medical organizations across several countries. (I listed them). Those medical organizations are looking for an explanation, because it will change medical policy. Medical policy is based on science and good medical practices (so, research).


One country identified a triggering event (see prior posts).

In the UK, Keira Bells case has shifted things.

Again, we need better evidence about detransitioners/desisters.

[speak easy]

11. By Generation

Americans' Self-Identification as LGBT, by Generation
LGBT Straight/Heterosexual No opinion

Generation Z (born 1997-2002) 15.9 78.9 5.2
Millennials (born 1981-1996)  9.1 82.7 8.1
Generation X (born 1965-1980)  3.8 88.6 7.6
Baby boomers (born 1946-1964)  2.0 91.1 6.9
Traditionalists (born before 1946) 1.3 89.9 8.9

[Withywindle]

17. I think this correlates to

Who had the most information about it available and who felt the safest coming out. I suspect there's pretty much the same number of LGBT people now that there's always been. It's just that the brutal repression is diminishing.

Another factor is the internet. Pre-internet, you might be the only LGBT person you knew in a small town, and you just didn't have the information to describe who you are and how you feel. Now, a young person in West Nowhere can communicate with people from all over the world about it. There's SO much more information and resources available now.

[IronLionZion]

13. I'm glad people are more comfortable being their authentic selves now

[area51]

22. +1 n/t

[Oneironaut]

14. B/c people feel safer to come out and be their true selves!

This will no doubt be used to further the right wing talking point that the LGBT community is a “social contagion.” They have it backwards - these people were already LGBT and now feel safe to admit it.

[Withywindle]

19. Another thing to consider about low LGBT rep in older generations

There are a LOT fewer LGBT older people than there should be.

Because hundreds of thousands died in the 80s and 90s.

[Keth]

24. true.

I often think of my friends Mitch and West who died in their twenties because of AIDS. Those two guys, Bud and myself were like the "Sex and the City" friends back in the day. Although I don't think I believe in heaven, sometimes I wonder how it might be if it exists. Mitch and West forever young and handsome and me and Bud two bitchy old queens.

I started watching the HBO series "It's a Sin" this week - I've already cried twice. Episode 3 was devastating.