Younger Generations Fuel The Rise Of LGBTQIA+ Identity In The US
More young people are now identifying as LGBTQIA+. New data from Gallup says in 2024, about 9.3% of adults in the US say they are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or something other than straight.
That’s a big jump. Back in 2012, only 3.5% of people identified that way. What’s behind this change?
Young People Lead The Way
Younger adults are far more likely to identify as LGBTQIA+ than older folks. Over one in five Gen Z adults (born between 1997 and 2006) identify as LGBTQIA+. That number goes down with each older group. Only 1.8% of the oldest Americans (born before 1946) identify the same way.
Gallup’s research found that the number of young people (Gen Z adults) identifying as LGBTQIA+ has gone up from 18.8% between 2020 to 2022 to 22.7% in 2024.
Bisexual Identity Is Common
Of those who identify as LGBTQIA+, many say they are bisexual. More than half of Gen Z (59%) and millennial (52%) LGBTQIA+ people identify as bisexual.
Who Else Identifies as LGBTQIA+?
Beyond age, identity also differs by gender, political views, and where people live.
Democrats (14%) and independents (11%) are more likely to identify as LGBTQIA+ than Republicans (3%). Also, 21% of liberals, 8% of moderates, and 3% of conservatives identify as LGBTQIA+. We can see that 10% of women and 6% of men identify as LGBTQIA+. The difference is mostly because more women identify as bisexual. Lastly, more people in cities (11%) and suburbs (10%) identify as LGBTQIA+ than in rural areas (7%).
Gallup’s data shows that LGBTQIA+ identification has nearly tripled in the last 12 years. More young people, especially women, are saying they are bisexual, but young people are also more likely to identify as lesbian, gay, transgender, or another identity.
“The rate of LGBTQIA+ identification is likely to continue to grow, given the generational shifts underway,” Gallup said. As more young people become adults, we can expect these numbers to keep changing.
Gallup’s data serves as a reminder that inclusivity isn’t just about policy or legislation. It’s about real people, their experiences, and their courage to live as their authentic selves. Visibility has come a long way; let’s keep it moving forward.
