According to a Gallup poll issued Thursday, 9.3% of adults now identify as LGBTQ+, indicating that more Americans are embracing their identities. The number has nearly doubled since 2020, representing a notable increase over prior years.
Younger generations are primarily responsible for the change. In addition to millennials and Generation X, over one in five Gen Z adults (those between the ages of 18 and 27) identify as LGBTQ+.
More societal acceptance, representation, and information availability, according to experts, are driving this trend.
“LGBTQ+ people have always been here and will continue to be here, no matter what laws or policies attempt to erase us,” stressed Jaymes Black, CEO of The Trevor Project, in light of these findings.
Gallup’s data also highlight important demographic distinctions. Urban and suburban populations show higher rates of LGBTQ+ identification than rural ones, and women are more likely than men to identify as LGBTQ+. Another factor is political affiliation; Democrats and independents are more likely than Republicans to identify as LGBTQ+.
Even if visibility has increased, problems still exist. Experts caution that growing anti-LGBTQ+ discourse still affects safety and mental health.
Nevertheless, a lot of people interpret the rising numbers as evidence of advancement, showing how society is moving toward understanding and inclusion.