Nearly 30% of Gen Z women identify as LGBTQ, Gallup survey finds

The percentage of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) adults in the U.S. has reached an all-time high of 7.6% in 2023, according to a new Gallup report. This increase is especially notable among Generation Z women, with nearly 30% identifying as LGBTQ+, primarily as bisexual, indicating significant growth in this demographic.

Gallup's latest report provides a breakdown of LGBTQ identification by gender across different generations. It reveals that women are nearly twice as likely as men to identify as LGBTQ, with 8.5% of women and 4.7% of men falling into this category. Interestingly, this trend is more pronounced among younger generations, while it reverses among baby boomers and the Silent Generation.

Among LGBTQ respondents, bisexual individuals constitute the largest group, comprising 57.3% of the total, followed by gay men (18.1%), lesbians (15.1%), and transgender individuals (11.8%). Notably, bisexual identification is particularly prominent among younger generations.

The survey also highlights the emergence of additional identities, such as pansexual and asexual, albeit representing a small proportion of respondents. Younger generations exhibit a higher likelihood of identifying as LGBTQ compared to older generations, indicating a generational shift in societal attitudes toward sexual orientation and gender identity.

Since Gallup began tracking LGBTQ identification in 2012, there has been a consistent upward trend, suggesting that the percentage will likely continue to rise. It is anticipated that sometime in the next few decades, the LGBTQ population in the U.S. could surpass 10%, influenced in part by changes in generational demographics.