Just how many Americans identify as LGBT+?

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With Pride Month under way, LGBT+ Americans and allies are celebrating with parades, festivals drag shows and more. So, how many Americans actually identify as LGBT?

According to a 2020 Gallup poll reported by Statista, which is the latest data available, 5.6% of adults surveyed in the United States stated they identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT). In 2012, Gallup had found that number to be just 3.5%.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender are the most common orientations and gender identities outside of being cis-straight in America, according to Statista.

Here is how Americans have responded to the question “Do you, personally, identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender?” since 2012:

  • 2012: 3.50%
  • 2013: 3.60%
  • 2014: 3.70%
  • 2015: 3.90%
  • 2016: 4.10%
  • 2017: 4.50%
  • 2020: 5.60%

Statista found that demographics had a big effect on how many people identified as LGBT. For instance, only 2% of Baby Boomers identified as LGBT. The generation with the highest percentage of LGBT members was Gen Z, with about 16% identifying as LGBT. Additionally, other surveys have found that women are more likely than men to identify as LGBT.

The steady increase over the years in Americans who identify as LGBT may at least in part be due to American society becoming more accepting of the LGBT+ community at-large. In fact, Statista found that in 2001, over half of Americans thought same-gender relationships were “morally wrong.”

Fast-forward 20 years to 2021, and that number dropped to 30%. Support for marriage equality has even increased among traditionally conservative political groups, according to Statista.

But despite this progress in acceptance of LGBT+ members, hundreds of Americans a year are victims of hate crimes solely because of their gender or LGBT+ identity.

Gallup’s latest data was based on 15,349 telephone interviews with adult Americans.  No data was available for 2018 and 2019. You can find out more about their methodology here.

This article was produced and syndicated by MediaFeed.org.

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Kaitlyn Farley

Kaitlyn is MediaFeed’s senior editor. She is a graduate of Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, specializing in social justice and investigative reporting. She has worked at various radio stations and newsrooms, covering higher-education, local politics, natural disasters and investigative and watchdog stories related to Title IX and transparency issues.