New Survey Finds 1 in 6 Gen Z Adults Identifies as LGBTQ+

Yes, the future IS getting queerer, and we have Gen Z to thank for that! 

According to a newly-released, updated report on sexuality and gender identity in the United States from global analytics firm Gallup, 5.6 percent of American adults identify within the LGBTQ+ spectrum! Compared to their 2017 estimate, which sat at 4.5 percent, that is a big increase! And the reason for that increase you ask? It's the younger generations, especially Gen Z, and their dedication and openness to living their most authentic lives! In fact, nearly 1 in 6 Gen Z adults (Gallup defines a Gen Z adult as someone who was between the ages of 18 and 23 during 2020), identifies as queer or trans!

"One of the main reasons LGBT identification has been increasing over time is that younger generations are far more likely to consider themselves to be something other than heterosexual," Gallup's report reads. "This includes about one in six adult members of Generation Z. LGBT identification is lower in each older generation, including 2 percent or less of Americans born before 1965 (aged 56 and older in 2020)."

Speaking on which specific label on the LGBTQ+ spectrum they identify with the most, the report continues:

"The vast majority of Generation Z adults who identify as LGBT — 72 percent — say they are bisexual. Thus, 11.5 percent of all Gen Z adults in the U.S. say they are bisexual, with about 2% each identifying as gay, lesbian or transgender."

72 percent is a huge number, especially considering that only about half of people in the Millennial generation (people between the ages of 24 to 39 in 2020) within the queer community ID'd as bisexual, according to Gallup.

While there's still a lot of work that needs to be done when it comes to LGBTQ+ righjts, equality, representation, and inclusion, these numbers from Gallup definitely give us hope that more and more people are comfortable with being themselves! All we can say is that it's a great time to be gay! 

Read the full Gallup report on the rise in LGBTQ-identifying Gen Z-ers here!