7% Of Americans Identify As LGBTQ – A Record High, Poll Finds

A new Gallup poll found that the number of adults in the United States who identify as part of the LGBTQIA+ community has reached a new high, at 7.1%. The percentage has doubled in the last ten years.

The survey, conducted by telephone, concluded that 86.3% of adult Americans identify as heterosexual and 6.6.% said they have no opinion. Twelve thousand people were polled.

Out of the participants, there was a clear increase in the number of people born in Generation Z (1997-2003) who are now adults that identify as LGBTQIA+ at 21%. That number is cut down by half in the millennial generation and even lower as age increases. The poll showed that the LGBTQIA+ community is expanding in Gen Z, but the number of people who identify as part of the community has stayed stable in older generations.

Over half of Americans, 57% to be precise, who identify as LGBTQIA+ say they are bisexual, which on a larger scale is equal to 4% of American adults. According to the poll, 21% say they are gay, 14% identify as lesbian, 10% are transgender and 4% do not identify with any of those categories. The poll also reported that those who identify as bisexual are the most likely group to get married.

In Gen Z specifically, nearly one in six U.S. adults identify as bisexual. Six percent of women compared with 2% of men say they are bisexual. Women are also more likely to be bisexual than lesbian. Just 1.9% identify as lesbian.

If the upward trend continues, the number of people who identify as part of the LGBTQIA+ community will continue to increase as the younger generations reach adulthood.