Happy pride month! π
Sources: Gallup surveys of 2012, 2016 and 2021 and the PRRI survey from 2023
Gayest. Generation. Ever.
this post was submitted on 01 Jun 2024
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The data doesn't really make sense, more than 50% of the population would be LGBTQ+? π€
Edit: Thank you, I've had enough people making it clear that it's the graph title that is misleading and it's the total of the respective generation's population and not total of the country's population. No need to correct me again!
... No.
It's that of all extant (surviving) members of each generation, this percentage OF them identifies as queer.
3% of the silent generation means 97% of them don't.
4% of boomers means 96% of boomers don't.
7% of gen-x-ers means 93% of them don't.
16% of ~~doomers~~ millennials means 84% of millennials don't.
28% of zoomers means 73% of zoomers don't.
A whopping (97+96+93+84+73)= 443% of people are straight? No, that is not the case.
According to the US Census bureau as of 2022,
The silent generation makes up 5.49% of the population (of whom 3% are LGBT). 3% of 5.49% = 0.16%
The boomers make up 20.58% of the population (of whom 4% are LGBT). 4% of 20.58% = 0.82%
Gen X makes up 19.61% of the population (of whom 7% are LGBT). 7% of 19.61% = 1.37%
Millennials make up 21.67% of the population (of whom 16% are LGBT). 16% of 21.67% = 3.47%
Zoomers make up 20.88% of the population (of whom 28% are LGBT). 28% of 20.88% = 5.85%
The remaining 11.77% of the population are not represented on this graph and comprise the vanishingly small remains of the greatest generation and gen-Ξ±. If we were to assume that gen-Ξ± were 0% LGBT, that would mean 11.67% of the total population are LGBT. If 100% of gen-Ξ± were LGBT, that would mean 23.44% of the total population, which is equally unrealistic. Following the trends we see here, I would expect no more than 50% of the gen-Ξ± cohort would identify as LGBT, and more likely less. At most, the segment of the population at large who would identify as LGBT at present time is probably LESS than 17.56%
... but it'll be cool if it goes higher :3
Look at the graph's title, that's what lead to my confusion
What makes you think 50%? The highest percentage in one particular age group is about 28% meaning the average of the whole population is of course much lower.
The graph says % of total population, you've got 28% for gen z and 16% for gen y, that's 44% right there...
Maybe having the actual study would make things clearer...
Ah yes, you're right. I read it as "% ot total population of that specific age group" and I guess that is what is meant, but it is not very well phrased indeed.
Numbers pulled out of my arse for illustration
Say of the whole population GenZ is 25% and GenY is also 25% (for convenience). If then 28% of GenZ identify as LGBTQ+ that would be 28%*.25= 7% (25% of 28%, or 1/4 of 28%). For GenZ maths would be 16%*0.25=4%. So these two groups would in total contribute that 11% of the total population is LGBTQ+.
Hopefully that makes sense.
I didn't take the time to analyse compared to each generation's population, but the graph is badly titled and it's indeed % of their respective generation's total population.
Percentage of total for each generation. Your assumption of this info is that we should add them together. But if you look at the opposite numbers (percentage of those not identifying as LGBT+) you get 97% + 96% + 93% + 84% + 72% giving us a grand total of 442%.
Obviously you can't have more than 100% of anything but it does illustrate that addition is not the method we should be using.
Instead we average them. Giving us 11.6% of the total population identifying as LGBT+.
The real information we're seeing is that the amount of those who identify as LGBT+ increase with every generation.
"More than one in five young Americans (18-29 years) identify as LGBTQ (22%). One in ten people ages 30-49 (10%), 6% of people between 50 and 64 years, and 3% of people 65 years or older identify as LGBTQ. Twenty-four percent of Gen Z Americans (aged 18 to 25) identify as LGBTQ."
Strangely percentages are a bit off though.
https://www.prri.org/research/views-on-lgbtq-rights-in-all-50-states/
Yeah so it's % of their respective generation then
It's says percentage of TOTAL population.
So for 2023 that's about 28 + 16 + 7 + 4 + 3 = 58 percent.
Percentage of total for each generation. Your assumption of this info is that we should add them together. But if you look at the opposite numbers (percentage of those not identifying as LGBT+) you get 97% + 96% + 93% + 84% + 72% giving us a grand total of 442%.
Obviously you can't have more than 100% of anything but it does illustrate that addition is not the method we should be using.
Instead we average them. Giving us 11.6% of the total population identifying as LGBT+.
The real information we're seeing is that the amount of those who identify as LGBT+ increase with every generation.
Does 'Title' on the left have some meaning I don't know about, or was it just never changed from the chart template? Are these numbers supposed to be percentages?
Yes, my bad. As wirtten at the top of the image, the numbers are percentages. E.g. the pink bar at the right (latest survey) means, that 27 or 28% of that generation define themselves LGBT+.
Oops, my bad! Thanks!
Yeah, it says they're percentages at the top.
Why not make that the y-axis label? That's literally what the y-axis label is for.
Then you couldn't put 'title' there.
Can't argue with that logic.
Idk chart maker is dumb I guess?
Thanks, I'm a dummy.
As someone who realized they are trans and therefore also gay within the past year...
Being trans doesn't necessarily mean you are homosexual. It is kinda gay to be trans though.
No but if you like girls and then realise you are also a girl you can go from "I'm a straight guy" to "I'm a gay woman"
Yeah, in my case though my sexuality flipped, didn't change too much because I'm pan but preferences went 65/35 to 35/65. I also know someone who was gay before, and after, transitioning. And I know many who haven't changed what gender they are attracted to.
Was mainly trying to point out they aren't connected for any cis people who wander.
What did you think the T in LGBT stood for?
I'm not sure what you are trying to imply..
Sorry, I guess the confusion is partially between you and the person you were replying to. The chart says LGBT, but "gay" is often used synonymously with LGBT when referring to the community (i.e. gay pride month instead of LGBTQIA+ pride month).
hmm, I suppose, but I do not like that. More often than not people are inclusive in hate but exclusive in praise. I understand ya, but I did specifically say homosexual to disambiguate. It's a fairly common misconception that trans people are just gay people who want to deceive straight people. Being trans, however, is not connected to sexuality, it's identity. I would have identified as a mostly straight d00d before transitioning, with a bit of pan-curiosity, now I'm solidly pan, somewhat more attracted to men.
TLDR: trans is not gay, but it's kinda gay, and I'm double gay.
I appreciate that you used the word homosexual, but the person you replied to didn't so I was confused as to why you thought that's what they meant. π€·
I was mainly trying to be funny but I did take the comment to mean she likes women, so now she knows she's gay because she knows she's a woman.
I'm gonna be real with you though, I've been having terrible migraines today, that combined with my ADHD and who knows why I say what I do.
I also meant my initial reply to be more sarcastic and rhetorical, but I forgot that doesn't come across online so well. Hope you feel better soon though.
The silent generation is interesting. Presumably the percentage is going up because the overall number of people remaining is significantly going down. Therefore we can conclude that being LGBTQ increases life expectancy.
I would argue a very different take on that data. We know stress reduces longevity due to weakened immune systems, higher blood pressure, and various other factors that go along with high levels of stress. I would say that it's more of the silent generation feeling comfortable with finally coming out as who they are rather than being LGBTQ+ increasing lifespan. In fact I'd say it probably reduced a lot of their lifespans due to constant stress of "being found out" along with the physical attacks that were far more common in their time.
While that's a terrible thing, I think we're going to see what the true percentage of people that identify as LGBTQ in the coming years. A good comparison is left handed people. Before it was taboo and looked down upon. After it become normalized the percentage of left handed people quickly jumped to 10% and has remained there more or less.
It wouldn't really explain why the numbers went down first
I think if you are talking about a few percentage points then that is well in the margin of error (especially as these are different studies if I understand that correctly)
Nice job, Gen Z, turning everyone more gayπ
The kids are all right. Theyβre better than ever π«Άππ³οΈβππβ€οΈ
Why not just making Non-LGBT the minority? π
Okay, but that chart background texture is flaming!