A new report from Gallup reveals that 9.3% of U.S. adults now identify as LGBTQ+, marking a significant increase, particularly among younger generations and bisexual women.
The Gallup survey, conducted via telephone with 14,000 participants in 2024, shows a rise in the number of people identifying as LGBTQ+ across the United States. The report highlights key demographic shifts, with nearly one in four adults between the ages of 18 and 27 identifying as LGBTQ+. The trend is especially noticeable among Gen Z women, with 31% identifying as LGBTQ+, compared to 12% of Gen Z men.
Among those who identify as LGBTQ+, half of them—50%—are bisexual. Women are nearly twice as likely as men to identify as LGBTQ+, according to the data.
The report also delves into the transgender population, including nonbinary and genderqueer individuals. Approximately 1.3% of respondents identified as transgender, a sharp increase from 0.6% in 2020. Gallup’s findings indicate that 4.1% of Gen Z adults identify as transgender, compared to 1.7% of millennials and less than 1% in older generations.
Political affiliation also plays a role in LGBTQ+ identification, with 21% of liberals identifying as LGBTQ+, in contrast to just 3% of conservatives.
However, Gallup notes that the actual number of LGBTQ+ individuals may be higher, as some respondents may have felt uncomfortable disclosing their identity during a telephone survey. About 5% of respondents chose not to answer the question at all.
LGBTQ+ advocates express concern that political shifts could impact the numbers in future surveys. Dr. Mitchell R. Lunn, co-director of a Stanford LGBTQ+ health study, voiced concern that a decrease in social acceptance, particularly under the Trump administration, could lead some individuals to conceal their identities again. “I worry that it will push some people to go back into the closet,” Lunn said, emphasizing the potential setback in progress for the LGBTQ+ community.
