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[whyamihere]

http://www.gallup.com/poll/201731/l...ial Issues&g_medium=newsfeed&g_campaign=tiles

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The portion of American adults identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) increased to 4.1% in 2016 from 3.5% in 2012. These figures, drawn from the largest representative sample of LGBT Americans collected in the U.S., imply that more than an estimated 10 million adults now identify as LGBT in the U.S. today, approximately 1.75 million more compared with 2012.

This is mostly driven by young people.

Millennials, defined here as those born between 1980 and 1998, drive virtually all of the increases observed in overall LGBT self-identification. The portion of that generation identifying as LGBT increased from 5.8% in 2012 to 7.3% in 2016. LGBT identification remained relatively stable over the five-year period at 3.2% among Generation X and declined slightly from 2.7% to 2.4% among baby boomers and from 1.8% to 1.4% among traditionalists.

Millennials are more than twice as likely as any other generation to identify as LGBT. In 2012, they accounted for 43% of LGBT-identified adults. As a result of their disproportionate increases in identification since then, they now account for 58%. Millennials comprise 32% of the general adult population.

LGBT identification increases are more pronounced in women than in men. In 2012, 3.5% of women identified as LGBT, comparable to the 3.4% of men. By 2016, LGBT identification in women increased to 4.4% compared with 3.7% among men. These changes mean that the portion of women among LGBT-identified adults rose slightly from 52% to 55%.

Among racial and ethnic minorities, the largest increases since 2012 in LGBT identification occurred among Asians (3.5% to 4.9%) and Hispanics (4.3% to 5.4%). Among whites, the comparable figures are 3.2% to 3.6%. Black Americans showed only a slight increase from 4.4% to 4.6%, and among "other" racial and ethnic groups, the increase was from 6.0% to 6.3%.

The relatively larger increases in LGBT identification among racial and ethnic groups other than white, non-Hispanics mean that these racial and ethnic minorities now account for 40% of LGBT-identified adults compared with 33% in 2012. In the general population, 33% of adults identify their race or ethnicity as other than white, non-Hispanic, an increase from 28% in 2012.

In 2012, the portion of LGBT adults varied by educational attainment, ranging from 2.9% among college graduates to 3.8% among those who had some college education. By 2016, there was virtually no variation by education, with 3.9% of those with a postgraduate degree identifying as LGBT along with 4.1% of all other educational groups.

The proportion of highly or moderately religious adults who identified as LGBT remained virtually the same between 2012 and 2016, but increased from 5.3% to 7.0% among those who are not religious. As a result, nonreligious adults are now more than three times more likely to identify as LGBT than those who are highly religious.

Charts at the link.

Solid recruitment numbers everyone!

 

[Conciliator]

makes sense, easier world for young people to come out in than it used to be

 

[AoM]

Recruitment numbers?

 

[Interframe]

Homophobia, transphobia, biphobia and other forms of discrimination against LGBTQ people are why more people in the past haven't identified as LGBTQ, its not just the fear of others knowing it's internal conflicts because this heteronormative society has taught and demanded that queer people stay quiet and supress their identities for so long (and continues to in many ways).

The LGBTQ population in humanity is probably higher than 10 percent.

 

[BowieZ]

So crazy how it's basically the exact same percentage around the world in free nations that don't criminalise the behaviour.

 

[AYF 001]

Recruitment numbers?

Tongue-in-cheek joke about how homophobes claim that the LGBT community has an agenda to turn heterosexual people non-straight.

Hopefully people can still find the courage to openly identify in the coming years if things keep going the way they are politically.

 

[MartyStu]

Homophobia, transphobia, biphobia and other forms of discrimination against LGBTQ people are why more people in the past haven't identified as LGBTQ, its not just the fear of others knowing it's internal conflicts because this heteronormative society has taught and demanded that queer people stay quiet and supress their identities for so long.

The LGBTQ population in humanity is probably higher than 10 percent.

All we can really say is that it is higher than we currently think. But it is looking likely...

 

[Captin Quacker]

Wait

Millennials, defined here as those born between 1980 and 1998

I'm a millennial!!

I always thought I was gen x

 

[Blood Diamonds]

I'm not a millennial tho (1997)

 

[echoshifting]

Wait


I'm a millennial!!

I always thought I was gen x

Sometimes they say 1980, sometimes they say after 1980

 

[Bronx-Man]

That goshdarned ghey agenda. Next thing you know, our kids are all gonna be having pansexual orgies with all their friends.

 

[1st Course]

LGBT identification increases are more pronounced in women than in men. In 2012, 3.5% of women identified as LGBT, comparable to the 3.4% of men. By 2016, LGBT identification in women increased to 4.4% compared with 3.7% among men. These changes mean that the portion of women among LGBT-identified adults rose slightly from 52% to 55%.

I've definitely noticed more women identifying as bisexual these days. Surprised the % isn't actually higher.

 

[Aarglefarg]

Not having a break down of L, G, B and T but just lumping the letters together in these stats makes it much less useful.

 

[Android18a]

Wait


I'm a millennial!!

I always thought I was gen x

Born in 83 here, definitely consider myself Gen X. Would never, ever describe myself as a Millennial! lol

 

[NintendoGal]

Homophobia, transphobia, biphobia and other forms of discrimination against LGBTQ people are why more people in the past haven't identified as LGBTQ, its not just the fear of others knowing it's internal conflicts because this heteronormative society has taught and demanded that queer people stay quiet and supress their identities for so long (and continues to in many ways).

The LGBTQ population in humanity is probably higher than 10 percent.

The bold part is what I have experienced throughout my life without even realizing it. I've come to discover that I am bisexual and that it's OK. Up until that point, I was ashamed of myself thinking gals were attractive too. Society raised me to believe that I should go out and get a husband and pop out kids, which is the only path to true happiness. Took me awhile to see how much bullshit I was fed.

Sucks to discover this when you're married because you feel as if you've been lying to the other person about yourself in some ways I guess. Luckily I have an outstanding husband of awesome.

 

[Volimar]

ITT: GAF learns about millennials.

 

[soundscream]

Wait


I'm a millennial!!

I always thought I was gen x

If you graduated high school before the year 2000, you should be gen x. People just want the nice round number of 1980 rather than the official 1982.

 

[Fudgepuppy]

Is identify the correct word? If you're LGBTQI, that's what you are, not really something you choose to be.

I identify as a progressive leftist on social issues, but more of a socio-democratic centrist on economic issues, but that's from experience and opinions, not something biological.

Am I misinterpreting the word? :S

 

[Haly]

Is identify the correct word? If you're LGBTQI, that's what you are, not really something you choose to be.

Probably openly, or self aware about it. Obviously there must've been load and loads of repressed lesbians/gays/trans/whatever before millennials came along and ruined heternormativity.

 

[SURGEdude]

It's almost like as society becomes more accepting more people are comfortable identifying themselves openly. Strange.

 

[Aarglefarg]

Is identify the correct word? If you're LGBTQI, that's what you are, not really something you choose to be.

I identify as a progressive leftist on social issues, but more of a socio-democratic centrist on economic issues, but that's from experience and opinions, not something biological.

Am I misinterpreting the word? :S

In this context it is accurate since it is a survey of self-reported identities.

 

[Snagret]

ITT: GAF learns about millennials.

Same thing every time, lol. People born in the 80s seem to really hate it when folks call them millennials.

Spoiler

Just embrace it, it's not that bad

 

[Wafflecakes]

If you graduated high school before the year 2000, you should be gen x. People just want the nice round number of 1980 rather than the official 1982.

lol @ "Official"

All 1980's kids are millennials and you will deal.

 

[crimsondynamics]

What do you call those that were born in the 2000s?

 

[SomedayTheFire]

Trump will sort that out

Born in 83 here, definitely consider myself Gen X. Would never, ever describe myself as a Millennial! lol

You're 100% a millenial.

What do you call those that were born in the 2000s?

Gen Z. Millenial is just a word used mostly in a derogatory (prob not the right word, it's early) sense for Gen Y.

 

[Fat4all]

Recruitment numbers?

I found their strategies!!!

It was cleverly disguised...

 

[Platy]

Is identify the correct word? If you're LGBTQI, that's what you are, not really something you choose to be.

I identify as a progressive leftist on social issues, but more of a socio-democratic centrist on economic issues, but that's from experience and opinions, not something biological.

Am I misinterpreting the word? :S

I would have used "out" as a correct word.
But identify works too since people inside the closet does not identify themselves as LGBT

 

[Fuchsdh]

Homophobia, transphobia, biphobia and other forms of discrimination against LGBTQ people are why more people in the past haven't identified as LGBTQ, its not just the fear of others knowing it's internal conflicts because this heteronormative society has taught and demanded that queer people stay quiet and supress their identities for so long (and continues to in many ways).

The LGBTQ population in humanity is probably higher than 10 percent.

I very much doubt that. But it's also going to depend on what you define as queer.

 

[milanbaros]

Born in 83 here, definitely consider myself Gen X. Would never, ever describe myself as a Millennial! lol

You might not describe yourself that way but everyone else would.

 

[Arthr2ShdsJcksn]

What do you call those that were born in the 2000s?

Children.

 

[Ms.Galaxy]

What do you call those that were born in the 2000s?

The Dank Memers

 

[ahoyhoy]

Homophobia, transphobia, biphobia and other forms of discrimination against LGBTQ people are why more people in the past haven't identified as LGBTQ, its not just the fear of others knowing it's internal conflicts because this heteronormative society has taught and demanded that queer people stay quiet and supress their identities for so long (and continues to in many ways).

The LGBTQ population in humanity is probably higher than 10 percent.

I'm confident that at least 50% of humanity would score a 2 or higher on the Kinsey scale should social pressure to remain strictly heterosexual not exist.

 

[Kai Dracon]

As time goes by it seems more accurate to see sexuality as a spectrum. Social conditioning prevents most people from exploring just what sexuality means to them personally.

I seem to recall surveys not long ago where more younger people said they might consider themselves some shade of gay or straight, by degrees.

 

[Teriyaki Blues]

What do you call those that were born in the 2000s?

My kid was born in 2000. I call them a punk more often than not.

PS: they identify as "super gay" if that helps the numbers any.

 

[royalan]

Better up the order on welcome toasters.

 

[Beefy]

I found their strategies!!!

It was cleverly disguised...

Needs more sparkles

 

[kswiston]

Born in 83 here, definitely consider myself Gen X. Would never, ever describe myself as a Millennial! lol

Sorry. 83 is after the millennial cut off in every definition I have seen.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millennials

 

[Saganator]

Born in 83 here, definitely consider myself Gen X. Would never, ever describe myself as a Millennial! lol

Same but born in '84

 

[Wilsongt]

makes sense, easier world for young people to come out in than it used to be

Exactly. You see more young people feeling safer and having a stronger support system and resources than the previous generations.

Sadly, though... There also appears to be somewhat of an uptick in younger people contracting HIV, which is disheartening...

 

[Miles X]

7.3% young people? And you can bet there are still huge numbers in the closet.

I'd bet 1 in 10 are a 3+ on the Kinsey scale

 

[Ms.Galaxy]

7.3% young people? And you can bet there are still huge numbers in the closet.

I'd bet 1 in 10 are a 3+ on the Kinsey scale

Wasn't it commonly theorized that 10% of the population in the US is LGBT? I honestly think that recent data might actually increase that theorized number to maybe even 20%.

 

[Miles X]

Wasn't it commonly theorized that 10% of the population in the US is LGBT? I honestly think that recent data might actually increase that theorized number to maybe even 20%.

I think we'd need way more data and research to suggest 20%.

I definitely think 10%+ based on the 7.3% figure.

I guess it depends what you want to include? Straight guys that very occasionally experiment? I know a few

 

[CDX]

Millennials, defined here as those born between 1980 and 1998, drive virtually all of the increases observed in overall LGBT self-identification. The portion of that generation identifying as LGBT increased from 5.8% in 2012 to 7.3% in 2016.

Interesting. And yet I know there are people that still wont self identify for whatever reason. So it seems safe to estimate the real number is at least somewhat higher.

I'd be interested to see a more detailed breakdown, of how many are identifying as Lesbian or Gay vs how many are identifying as Bi.

 

[Wilsongt]

Interesting. And yet I know there are people that still wont self identify for whatever reason. So it seems safe to estimate the real number is at least somewhat higher.

I'd be interested to see a more detailed breakdown, of how many are identifying as Lesbian or Gay vs how many are identifying as Bi.

How much do you want to break it down? That + in LGBT+ keeps growing everyday. It's hard to keep up with it all in this new generation of obscure Tumblr sexualities.

 

[ahoyhoy]

How much do you want to break it down? That + in LGBT+ keeps growing everyday. It's hard to keep up with it all in this new generation of obscure Tumblr sexualities.

Wider acknowledgement of bisexuality is the first step. There are still many who are confused by the basic idea of sexuality outside of the binary and this needs to be stamped out.

 

[Wilsongt]

Wider acknowledgement of bisexuality is the first step. There are still many who are confused by the basic idea of sexuality outside of the binary and this needs to be stamped out.

Certainly. Biphobia is pretty disgusting.

 

[Slayven]

Easier for people to be who they are, they always been here but they had to hide.

 

[Air]

Not surprised. Doesn't this lineup with the figure that about 10% of the worlds population is LGBT?

Anyway, good for them. It's easier to be who you want to be, makes sense the number would increase