One in five LDS students say they are LGBQ+

A survey by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression revealed the range of sexual orientations among students who belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Among the 39,000 college-aged respondents surveyed, 709 identified themselves as LDS students aged 18 to 25. The research delved into sexual orientations across various religious groups, positioning Mormons between other religious identities in terms of heterosexual orientation. While 78 percent of Mormon respondents identified as heterosexual, 6 percent identified as bisexual, 3 percent as gay or lesbian, and 13 percent categorized themselves as something else, encompassing identities like asexual, pansexual, queer, or questioning.

Political scientist Ryan Burge discussed the findings in his twice-weekly Graphs About Religion substack at graphsaboutreligion.com.

Contrary to expectations, LDS students’ self-reported heterosexual orientation was only slightly higher than the overall sample average of college students surveyed. This revelation surprised Burge, especially considering that the rates among Protestants and even Catholics were marginally higher, despite Catholicism often being perceived as more liberal than Mormonism.

The LDS Church is recognized for its conservative stance on sexual matters, specifically disallowing same-sex marriage for its members. Despite this doctrinal position, the survey results suggested a considerable variance in sexual orientations among LDS college students, potentially reflecting a shift in generational attitudes within the community.

Although the study did not examine religious practices or beliefs, Burge pointed out the likelihood that some participants may identify as LDS because of familial or cultural connections rather than active religious involvement. This observation brings up issues regarding the intricate nature of religious identity among young Mormons, where cultural ties may persist even if religious beliefs have changed.

The survey conducted on LDS college students explored their sexual orientations as well as their political leanings. Interestingly, the students were more evenly distributed between the Democratic and Republican parties as compared to the general LDS population. Thirty-nine percent of the students identified themselves as Democrats or leaned towards the Democratic Party, while 45 percent aligned themselves with the Republican Party, with an additional 16 percent identifying as Independents.