3.4% of u.s. Population is gay,bisexual,transgendered,transexual

[natina]

Poll: 3.4% of US Adults Are Gay, Bisexual, Transgender

A new survey has found that 3.4% of US adults identify themselves as gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender. The Gallup poll, believed to be the largest ever aimed at calculating the LGBT population, interviewed more than 121,000 people. The findings upend some stereotypes about the community. "If you spend a lot of time watching network television, you would think most LGBT people are rich white men who live in big cities," the poll report's lead author tells USA Today (http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2012/10/18/adults-lesbian-gay-bisexual/1642203/). "These data suggest the LGBT community reflects more of the diversity in the US." In fact, LGBT identification is highest among younger, non-white, less educated people.
Percentages of those considering themselves LGBT range from 3.2% of whites to 4.6% of African-Americans. Slightly more women (3.6%) than men (3.3%) generally identified themselves as LGBT. The range was far wider among people ages 18 to 29, with 8.3% of women and 4.6% of men considering themselves LGBT. The ultra-conservative American Research Council squawked that while the LGBT population may be 3.4% of America, they "seem to enjoy 100% accommodation." (http://www.frc.org/)

http://www.newser.com/story/156086/poll-34-of-us-adults-are-gay-bisexual-transgender.html

[natina]

http://img1-cdn.newser.com/square-image/156086-20121019060743/poll-34-of-us-adults-are-gay-bisexual-transgender.jpeg


New survey: 3.4% of U.S. adults are LGBT

A Gallup survey finds LGBT Americans at lower education and income levels.

What's being touted as the largest study ever aimed at counting the nation's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender population finds that 3.4% of adults across the USA identify as being part of the LGBT community.

Based on interviews with more than 121,000 individuals, the Gallup survey (http://bit.ly/Rb0PAX) released Thursday shakes up some stereotypes: LGBT identity is highest among those who are younger, non-white and less educated.
"It helps to counter what I think are some inappropriate stereotypes of the LGBT community," says the report's lead author, demographer Gary Gates of the Williams Institute at the University of California-Los Angeles. "If you spend a lot of time watching network television, you would think most LGBT people are rich white men who live in big cities. These data suggest the LGBT community reflects more of the diversity in the U.S.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2012/10/18/adults-lesbian-gay-bisexual/1642203/

[fred41]

The reality is that a large percentage of people would be covered by this shirt:

[Cecil Rhodes]

Incorrect as usual on the average . The Down-Low population is upwards of 12% of the US Census . The males alone would be 5% .

[sukumvit boy]

Yeah, upwards of 12% would seem more accurate to me.
When I heard '3.4%' on NPR this morning, I thought, "that can't be right".

[TempestTS]

Not even close try 30-50% - who the fuck did they survey the GOP? Hell even those closet cases would rank higher than 3.4% just by accidentally checking the wrong box.

WTF?

[Quiet Reflections]

you can't put a percentage on the downlow population...................they are down low, they wouldn't even answer the question truthfully. That is a wild ass guess at best. 30-50? not even. It seems like that many since you girls(and us guys somewhat) are in that community but lets be honest with ourselves it is probably closer to that 3.5 than we want to admit.

[Quiet Reflections]

and remember it was a survey of what people consider themselves not what label other think they should wear

[TempestTS]

you can't put a percentage on the downlow population...................they are down low, they wouldn't even answer the question truthfully. That is a wild ass guess at best. 30-50? not even. It seems like that many since you girls(and us guys somewhat) are in that community but lets be honest with ourselves it is probably closer to that 3.5 than we want to admit.

The "Straight" world aint as straight as you think, and Im not just counting those on the the down low, just because society manages to repress a huge chunk of the population doesn't mean they are really 100% straight. We are all a great deal more "bisexual" than we admit or act upon.

Im not exactly in "that community" Im just part of the population on the planet and dont form exclusive ties just to a specific section of it, Ill stick to my wild guess thank you...

[giovanni_hotel]

What happened to the frequently quoted number that roughly 10% of the U.S. population is gay/bi???

That 3.4% sounds like right wing propaganda.
I don't believe for a second that most people report honestly on these surveys.

[Ecstatic]

Well I suspect there are rather more bi-sexual (or at least bi-curious) than that percentage claims, it may not be so far off for the LG and T: 3.4% of 315,000,000 is 10,710,000, which is nothing to sneeze at.

[GrimFusion]

Not even close try 30-50% - who the fuck did they survey the GOP? Hell even those closet cases would rank higher than 3.4% just by accidentally checking the wrong box.

WTF?

I'd agree with 25-30%. There are way too many people in America who are bisexual and either abstain from having same-sex partners or whom simply wouldn't admit to being bisexual on any census, poll, or questionnaire.

[TempestTS]

I'd agree with 25-30%. There are way too many people in America who are bisexual and either abstain from having same-sex partners or whom simply wouldn't admit to being bisexual on any census, poll, or questionnaire.

Apparently Grim has partaken in a steaming hot cup of sanity because thats exactly on point :)

[scroller]

Look, people: This isn't even news. Numerous studies have found the same thing in the past. If you ask, "Has a homosexual thought ever even crossed your mind?" then you get responses of 10-20% yes. If you ask, "Are you a homosexual (et. al.)?" then you get responses of 2-3% yes. Depending on their political slant, people emphasize one or the other.

From the Journal of Homosexuality (2006) -- "Studies of the 2-3% of persons who identify as homosexual found men but not women had more older brothers than persons who identify as heterosexual. The present study investigated the birth order in the approximately 20% of men and women who anonymously report some homosexual feelings, few of whom identify as homosexual."

http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1300/J082v51n04_09

[iagodelgado]

Look, people: This isn't even news. Numerous studies have found the same thing in the past. If you ask, "Has a homosexual thought ever even crossed your mind?" then you get responses of 10-20% yes. If you ask, "Are you a homosexual (et. al.)?" then you get responses of 2-3% yes. Depending on their political slant, people emphasize one or the other.

From the Journal of Homosexuality (2006) -- "Studies of the 2-3% of persons who identify as homosexual found men but not women had more older brothers than persons who identify as heterosexual. The present study investigated the birth order in the approximately 20% of men and women who anonymously report some homosexual feelings, few of whom identify as homosexual."

http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1300/J082v51n04_09
Interesting link.

[Queens Guy]

What happened to the frequently quoted number that roughly 10% of the U.S. population is gay/bi???

That 3.4% sounds like right wing propaganda.
I don't believe for a second that most people report honestly on these surveys.

I don't think it's fair to say that Gallup is politically biased. Both parties have claimed that Gallup is biased, so maybe that means they are really in the middle. Their Presidential election polling slightly overestimates the Democratic candidate, meaning they say the Democrat will get 53%, but he only gets 51%. (which is still within the margin of error.)

Not to say the poll can't have it's flaws. The first one is getting an honest answer.

How anonymous did the person who was asked the question feel? If they didn't truly feel anonymous, they're less likely to answer honestly. Was it conducted by phone? Who else was in the room when that person was answering? Even political pressure can distort getting an honest answer. Some people aren't honest about which candidate they're going to vote for if they live in an area, or have lots of friends that overwhelmingly support the other candidate. They want their answer to 'fit in with the crowd'.

I agree that the true number is higher. Of course, I live in NYC, which attracts LGBT people to move here from less LGBT-friendly places. So, maybe those of us who live in LGBT-friendly places are a bit 'biased', so to speak, by basing our opinion on what we see where we live.

[ktkraft]

This kind of survey is really hard to do, the number is higher although i dont agree with 50 percent as some people said. I have sex with TS but consider myself straight because i am not attracted to a male sexually or romantically. And there are lots of people out there like that. Ive heard of some even having gay sex but considering themselves straight because there not romantically attracted to men, just want to get off and doesnt matter to them who

[Merkurie]

Even IF (and it is a big IF) 3.4% "identify" as LGBT in some statistical sample, the percentage of people who have engaged in "same sex" intimate activity is far far higher. And the number of people who honestly feel gender disphoria is unknowable because it is such a huge taboo still.

And in the people who would engage in same sex intimate activity if they could "excuse" or "get away with it", even more.

Now add in the people who will not allow themselves "to go there" even though they really want to, even more.

But the confirmed self aware and self identified LGBT community even those in the closet and not out at work and such, I'd say about 10-15%.

[Ben]

Maybe everyone is bisexual -- :)

[gaysian71]

3.4% is way too low. I would bet that with men alone, the answer is about 50%. That's if you include all the men that have gay and TS sex on the DL. I'll bet its even higher if you count all the men that have thought about it, but are to scared to try for fear of being caught and ostracized by their peers. I have been wiht many men that had admited to me that they are married and no one knows that they like playing with other men. I'm sure with TS girls there are a lot more men with the same claim.

[Rusty Eldora]

Does it really matter what box some pollster puts us into? I get upset how many in the LGBT try and force the rest of society to have the LGBT rules, they claim they don't want the government in the bedroom, but just guard it. What we should be as a country is learn to be more accepting of ones sexuality. Same sex marriage is being fought for, but 3 or 4 people cannot get married - yet that has worked well in many cultures before.

Shouldn't it be legal to get a release at the Zumba studio, or to visit the Tgirl of your choice. Both sex and money are legal, but some combinations of sex and money are not - go figure.

Just looking at the Seattle escort scene which should be a more sexed up group than the general population. TS girls are far less than 10% of the providers, and there are basically no male escorts around. So on a sexual act basis, I would guess it is in the 3 to 5% range. Sure a lot of people are bi, but they still generally go one way or the other.

[onmyknees]

LMAO..Don't like the poll results? Blame the GOP. I had always thought Gallup was a Dem leaning outfit, but Barry's folks seem to have a hard on for them, so who knows. Somebody's gotta blame somebody....just the way it is.

Anyway as to the findings of the poll, I had always read it was in the 8-10 percentile, but I'm not a scientific pollster, nor is shit like that relevent . Here's one thing we do know....if it is 3-4% almost every one of those identified is a member right here on HA ! So not to worry...you vote has been counted! I'm assuming you were all contacted by Gallup ? :dancing:

[scroller]

"I don't like how those statistics came out, so I'll just deny them and make up my own..."

And so goes the world. :rolleyes:

[loveboof]

Some of you guys think 50% of Americans are gay? lol

[GrimFusion]

LMAO..Don't like the poll results? Blame the GOP. I had always thought Gallup was a Dem leaning outfit, but Barry's folks seem to have a hard on for them, so who knows. Somebody's gotta blame somebody....just the way it is.

Anyway as to the findings of the poll, I had always read it was in the 8-10 percentile, but I'm not a scientific pollster, nor is shit like that relevent . Here's one thing we do know....if it is 3-4% almost every one of those identified is a member right here on HA ! So not to worry...you vote has been counted! I'm assuming you were all contacted by Gallup ? :dancing:

It is relevant when the religious right try to use these astoundingly low poll figures to glaze over equal rights issues as if they aren't important.

[fred41]

It is relevant when the religious right try to use these astoundingly low poll figures to glaze over equal rights issues as if they aren't important.

To be honest...I haven't seen these figures used in ANY political way...and probably wont in the foreseeable future.

[GrimFusion]

To be honest...I haven't seen these figures used in ANY political way...and probably wont in the foreseeable future.

They haven't been used to my knowledge. I just wouldn't be surprised if they were.

[fred41]

They haven't been used to my knowledge. I just wouldn't be surprised if they were.

Okay,but that's not quite the same ...oh never mind.

[TempestTS]

I think a lot of the GOP political this or that comes from my post being mis-read

I wasnt asking or accusing "Who Did the Survey? The GOP?"

I was mocking the low results saying " Who did they survey? The GOP?"

[GrimFusion]

Okay,but that's not quite the same ...oh never mind.

Nah, I get it. I probably shouldn't have brought it up in the first place.
I totally went there, though. Firsties!

[danthepoetman]

Nice and interesting post as always, Natina.
I also think 3.4% is a ridiculously low number, for this one or any other study on sexual orientation. These studies are usually conducted by telephone or by someone going around with a pad asking a few questions. Not the best way to get serious results. There has been others, but I think the Kinsey Report is still one of the best references because of the way the study was made, mostly by psychologists during thousands of “in depth” interviews with every possible class of people in society. The results are quite complex because of Kinsey discovery that sexuality is much more complex than the way regular or popular language has it to be. For this reason, he designed a scale that analyzes in a much more precise manner the sexual orientation of people according to every aspect of their sexuality, would it be fantasies only, or temptations, or occasional experiences at some point during life, etc. The scale shows seven possible orientations, from totally hetero to totally homosexual, with five mid-way orientations in between, the very middle one being of course bi-sexuality. To put it simply, taking into account all types at every moment in their lives, Kinsey has shown that up to almost half of the people interviewed were not totally heterosexual. And keep in mind that this study was made at a time of still repressed sexuality –the end of the 40s!
Essentially, these researches coincide with what we know of history. The Ancients were very largely if not completely bisexuals –Greeks and Romans. We also know that chimpanzees are known for their bisexual behaviour, and especially the bonobos, which are completely bisexuals. Considering that we share more than 98.5% of our genes with the chimps, and that the Homo (not gay but Homo specie, us!) ancestor had pretty much similar features to chimps and pretty much the same brain size (and even a bit more), we can certainly see an indication in all of this that before these long centuries of Christian repression, we were ourselves thoroughly bisexuals, or that we have such a biological propensity as a specie.
I post bellow a part of the Wiki article on the Kinsey Report, and a few expressions of the Kinsey scale, which is always a good reminder of the complexity of our sexual behaviour:

“Sexual orientation
Parts of the Kinsey Reports regarding diversity in sexual orientations are frequently used to support the common estimate of 10% for homosexuality in the general population. However, the findings are not as absolute, and Kinsey himself avoided and disapproved of using terms like homosexual or heterosexual to describe individuals, asserting that sexuality is prone to change over time, and that sexual behavior can be understood both as physical contact as well as purely psychological phenomena (desire, sexual attraction, fantasy).[citation needed] Instead of three categories (heterosexual, bisexual andhomosexual), a seven-category Kinsey Scale system was used (an 8th category forasexuals was added by Kinsey's associates).
The reports also state that nearly 46% of the male subjects had "reacted" sexually to persons of both sexes in the course of their adult lives, and 37% had at least one homosexual experience.[7] 11.6% of white males (ages 20–35) were given a rating of 3 (about equal heterosexual and homosexual experience/response) throughout their adult lives.[8] The study also reported that 10% of American males surveyed were "more or less exclusively homosexual for at least three years between the ages of 16 and 55" (in the 5 to 6 range).[9] »

[scroller]

These studies are usually conducted by telephone or by someone going around with a pad asking a few questions. Not the best way to get serious results. There has been others, but I think the Kinsey Report is still one of the best references because of the way the study was made, mostly by psychologists during thousands of “in depth” interviews with every possible class of people in society.

No, that is an atrocious and biased sampling procedure.

"Academic criticisms were made pertaining to sample selection and sample bias in the reports' methodology. Two main problems cited were that significant portions of the samples come from prison populations and male prostitutes, and that people who volunteer to be interviewed about taboo subject are likely to suffer from the problem of self-selection. Both undermine the usefulness of the sample in terms of determining the tendencies of the overall population. In 1948, the same year as the original publication, a committee of the American Statistical Association, including notable statisticians such as John Tukey, condemned the sampling procedure. Tukey was perhaps the most vocal critic, saying, 'A random selection of three people would have been better than a group of 300 chosen by Mr. Kinsey.'"

Just so you know: John Tukey is the man who developed a lot of modern statistics (he even invented the terms "bit" and "software"). If he says it's a broken procedure, then it's a broken procedure.

[Prospero]

The reality is that a large percentage of people would be covered by this shirt:

Must be a HUGE shirt

[CORVETTEDUDE]

If being enammered by the Transsexual community classifies me as gay, then so be it. I love you ladies, sympathize with your plight and would proudly walk hand in hand with you. So....there it is!

[Merkurie]

If you did a survey of US clergy in all mainstream denominations, you might get 1% to admit to being gay. But the percentage of clergy who have engaged in "gay sex" is as we know a hell of a lot higher.

If you went to the Arab Middle East and asked the same question you would get like 0% admit to being gay, but the number of males who engage in male on male sex acts (particularly with young boys ) is notoriously high.

"Gay" really is more of a cultural identification than a descriptor of the kind of sex a person has had.

[fred41]

must be a huge shirt


xxxxxxxxxxxl

[TempestTS]

If being enammered by the Transsexual community classifies me as gay, then so be it. I love you ladies, sympathize with your plight and would proudly walk hand in hand with you. So....there it is!

Who are you again?

[loveboof]

Would the forum implode if someone pointed out that according to the survey there are more gay black dudes than white?

If that is true, then it's interesting because African-American men are often the most outwardly homophobic too...

[fred41]

Would the forum implode if someone pointed out that according to the survey there are more gay black dudes than white?


Why would that be upsetting?

I thought that was a given? :whistle:

[TempestTS]

Would the forum implode if someone pointed out that according to the survey there are more gay black dudes than white?

If that is true, then it's interesting because African-American men are often the most outwardly homophobic too...


The point is a survey about a subject most people cant even be honest with themselves about is utterly useless. You cant quantify a thought or and idea so there is no control aspect to such a survey.

I dont believe we imploded either - maybe a slight dent on one side of the forum but that could have been from a low pressure atmospheric anomaly or a weather baloon - these are not the Aliens your looking for.

[loveboof]

The point is a survey about a subject most people cant even be honest with themselves about is utterly useless. You cant quantify a thought or and idea so there is no control aspect to such a survey.

I dont believe we imploded either - maybe a slight dent on one side of the forum but that could have been from a low pressure atmospheric anomaly or a weather baloon - these are not the Aliens your looking for.

Well, it's not utterly useless because at the very least it can show us how many people are happy to openly acknowledge their homosexuality.

But yeah.. yeah.. these aren't the droids I'm looking for :-?

[danthepoetman]

No, that is an atrocious and biased sampling procedure.
Just so you know: John Tukey is the man who developed a lot of modern statistics (he even invented the terms "bit" and "software"). If he says it's a broken procedure, then it's a broken procedure.
Scroller, there is no reason to be rude, buddy. Yes, I left out this part (and most) of the Wiki article because there always is controversy for any type of methodology used in such studies, and it was obvious there would be even more on a study on sexuality produced in the 40s… But the fact of the matter is that the Kinsey report was made out of more than 12 000 in depth interviews with people (and not just from prison of course –that’s ridiculous- but indeed from every possible classes of citizens) covering their whole sexual history with more than 500 items. Such a study was extremely complex to achieve and took Kinsey’s team more than 10 years! It doesn’t have anything to do with a Gallup poll. You certainly know how such polls are made: a few questions on the telephone during a less than 5 minutes conversation. In the case of this study, it seems that there was 121 000 interviews, which is indeed enormous. But I still doubt that people would be very sincere in their answers to someone they don’t know, that call them out of the blue at supper time; I know I wouldn’t.
Besides, my point, more importantly, was that few of these studies acknowledge that sexuality is much more complex than the usual references would let you think it is. Hetero, homo and bi sexuality do not take into considerations all types of sexual orientations possible. And the fact that the fantasy world is not considered nor the history of a person constitute huge wholes in the understanding of sexual preferences (for instances, one or several experiences in the past, or for a period of time in life, or the fantasies entertain by an individual which might be opposed to his actual sexuality). All of that was covered by the Kinsey study. That was my point, if I didn’t expressed it clearly enough.
Considering every aspect of our sexuality, it appears that considering our actual (or popular) standards, much more people than we ever have imagined situate themselves somewhere in the middle, somewhere between hetero and homo sexuality. Human sexuality is much more subtle than we usually like to think it is, and much more complex. And discussions we have on this board and our presence here show that without any possible doubts –especially the presence of many men feeling that they are totally heterosexuals, for instance.
Fritz Klein, at the end of the 80s has made a similar attempt as that of Kinsey to broaden the spectrum of understanding human sexuality, by creating a grid which resembles a lot the Kinsey scale. It is more precise, maybe, and create a more accurate picture of an individual’s sexuality.
Here are some links on the Kinsey report (some with more infos than Wiki), and Klein’s grid:
http://www.kinseyinstitute.org/research/ak-data.html
http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/Articles/000,024.htm
Kinsey Reports - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinsey_Reports)
http://www.bisexual.org/kleingrid.html
Klein Sexual Orientation Grid - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Klein_Sexual_Orientation_Grid)

[TempestTS]

Well, it's not utterly useless because at the very least it can show us how many people are happy to openly acknowledge their homosexuality.

But yeah.. yeah.. these aren't the droids I'm looking for :-?


Correction - how many people are happy to openly acknowledge their "Sexuality"

"Oche' boutchea Aktca" Han Solo ---

[TempestTS]

Scroller, there is no reason to be rude, buddy. Yes, I left out this part (and most) of the Wiki article because there always is controversy for any type of methodology used in such studies, and it was obvious there would be even more on a study on sexuality produced in the 40s… But the fact of the matter is that the Kinsey report was made out of more than 12 000 in depth interviews with people (and not just from prison of course –that’s ridiculous- but indeed from every possible classes of citizens) covering their whole sexual history with more than 500 items. Such a study was extremely complex to achieve and took Kinsey’s team more than 10 years! It doesn’t have anything to do with a Gallup poll. You certainly know how such polls are made: a few questions on the telephone during a less than 5 minutes conversation. In the case of this study, it seems that there was 121 000 interviews, which is indeed enormous. But I still doubt that people would be very sincere in their answers to someone they don’t know, that call them out of the blue at supper time; I know I wouldn’t.
Besides, my point, more importantly, was that few of these studies acknowledge that sexuality is much more complex than the usual references would let you think it is. Hetero, homo and bi sexuality do not take into considerations all types of sexual orientations possible. And the fact that the fantasy world is not considered nor the history of a person constitute huge wholes in the understanding of sexual preferences (for instances, one or several experiences in the past, or for a period of time in life, or the fantasies entertain by an individual which might be opposed to his actual sexuality). All of that was covered by the Kinsey study. That was my point, if I didn’t expressed it clearly enough.
Considering every aspect of our sexuality, it appears that considering our actual (or popular) standards, much more people than we ever have imagined situate themselves somewhere in the middle, somewhere between hetero and homo sexuality. Human sexuality is much more subtle than we usually like to think it is, and much more complex. And discussions we have on this board and our presence here show that without any possible doubts –especially the presence of many men feeling that they are totally heterosexuals, for instance.
Fritz Klein, at the end of the 80s has made a similar attempt as that of Kinsey to broaden the spectrum of understanding human sexuality, by creating a grid which resembles a lot the Kinsey scale. It is more precise, maybe, and create a more accurate picture of an individual’s sexuality.
Here are some links on the Kinsey report (some with more infos than Wiki), and Klein’s grid:
http://www.kinseyinstitute.org/research/ak-data.html
http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/Articles/000,024.htm
Kinsey Reports - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinsey_Reports)
http://www.bisexual.org/kleingrid.html
Klein Sexual Orientation Grid - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Klein_Sexual_Orientation_Grid)

Fuck More Graphs???

If there's going to be a Quiz later Im outta here...

:hide-1:

[danthepoetman]

Avalanche of infos, Tempest: it’s a strategy to always be right. ;)

[loveboof]

Correction - how many people are happy to openly acknowledge their "Sexuality"

"Oche' boutchea Aktca" Han Solo ---

I did type just 'sexuality' at first, but changed it because I thought it made the point clearer.

You're right though...

Cantina band 10 hours - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWO5Ai_a80M)