Gallup finds over 9% in U.S. now identify as LGBTQ+
According to survey data from 2024 released Thursday by Gallup, the percentage of U.S. adults identifying as LGBTQ+ has reached a historic high, with 9.3 percent now saying they are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or another non-heterosexual identity. This marks a steady increase from 8.2 percent in 2023 and a dramatic rise from 3.5 percent when Gallup first began tracking LGBTQ+ identification in 2012.
LGBTQ+ identification remains significantly higher among younger generations, with more than one in five Gen Z adults (22.7%) — those born between 1997 and 2006 — identifying as LGBTQ+. Millennials follow with 12%, while older generations show decreasing rates, with only 1.8% of Americans born before 1946 identifying as LGBTQ+.
The data also shows that bisexuality is the most common identity among LGBTQ+ individuals, making up 56 percent of those surveyed. This trend is particularly pronounced among younger generations, with 59 percent of Gen Z and 52 percent of millennial LGBTQ+ adults identifying as bisexual. In contrast, older LGBTQ+ adults are more likely to identify as gay or lesbian.
Beyond generational differences, the survey highlights notable trends in gender, political affiliation, and geography. Women are more likely than men to identify as LGBTQ+ (10% vs. 6%), a trend largely driven by bisexuality. The gender gap is especially pronounced among younger generations, with 31 percent of Gen Z women compared to 12 percent of Gen Z men identifying as LGBTQ+.
Political affiliation also plays a role, with 14 percent of Democrats and 11 perent of independents identifying as LGBTQ+, compared to just 3 percent of Republicans. Additionally, 21 percent of self-identified liberals say they are LGBTQ+, compared to 8 percent of moderates and 3 percent of conservatives.
Urban areas continue to be a stronghold for LGBTQ+ identification, with 11 percent of city dwellers identifying as LGBTQ+, compared to 10 percent in suburban areas and 7 percent in rural regions.
Since Gallup began tracking LGBTQ+ identification 12 years ago, the percentage has nearly tripled, driven by generational shifts and changing social norms. As more Gen Z and millennial adults openly identify as LGBTQ+, experts anticipate these numbers will continue to rise in the coming years.
“This polling reflects what we’ve been saying all along: the future that anti-equality politicians are fear-mongering about is already here,” said Human Rights Campaign President Kelley Robinson. “LGBTQ+ Americans have always been here, and we are not going anywhere. There are way too many of us to be ignored, there are way too many of us to drive us out of everyday life, and the politicians who think they can turn back the clock on LGBTQ+ acceptance will fail. It is a beautiful thing that growing acceptance over the course of recent decades has allowed more and more people to show up as their authentic selves, and we should all be working toward a future where everyone can be exactly who they are.”
Stanford University researcher of LGBTQ+ health Dr. Mitchell R. Lunn, told The New York Times that he believes the Gallup numbers are likely an undercount and that the increase is “largely driven by the many decades of gradual increasing societal acceptance.”
A report from Bowling Green State University highlights the rapid growth of the LGBTQ+ voting bloc, projecting a significant increase in its influence over the next two decades. Currently representing one-in-ten voters, LGBTQ+ Americans are expected to grow to nearly one-in-seven by 2030 and one-in-five by 2040. This expansion could fundamentally reshape the U.S. electoral landscape, particularly in key battleground states like Georgia, Texas, and Arizona, where the proportion of LGBTQ+ voters is set to nearly double. The report attributes this growth to younger generations identifying as LGBTQ+ at higher rates and increased societal acceptance of diverse sexual and gender identities.
