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If you ever feel like you’re alone as an LGBTQ individual, know that that probably isn’t true — there are millions of us out there/ According to the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law, there are around 11.3 million adults in the United States who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender. That translates to about 4.5 percent of U.S. adults.
Broken down, 58 percent if that 11.3 million are females while the remaining 42 percent are males. Whites make up 58 percent of the population, while Latino/as and African-Americans make up 21 percent and 12 percent respectively. The LGBTQ population also tends to skew younger, with an average age of 37.3. The average age of non-LGBTQ individuals is 47.9.
When it comes to the size of their LGBTQ population, Washington D.C., Oregon, Nevada Massachusetts, and California have the highest percentage. The states with the lowest percentage are Indiana, Georgia, Delaware, Arizona, and Ohio.
The economic situation of LGBTQ people is a much less rosy situation, according to the study. Compared to non-LGBTQ people, there are more unemployed, uninsured, and food insecure LGBTQ people. Twenty-five percent of the LGBTQ population have an income that is less than $24,000.
This increase in the number of LGBTQ adults in the United States is a continuing trend. In 2016, an estimated 10 million Americans identified as LGBTQ, which at the time was a 1.75 million rise since 2012. As stated in a report posted on the Adam4Adam blog previously, the reason for these increases is because same-sex relations are now more accepted compared to previous generations. Back in 1986, same-sex marriage were supported by less than half of the population, while in 2016, 68 percent of the population were in favor.
What do you guys think of these numbers? Would you agree that there are more LGBTQ people that are unemployed, uninsured, and food insecure? Share your thoughts with us below.
Employment issues are driven by many factors, much as minority income has always been stifled, historically. Some of these were dealing with internal conflicts and perhaps performed less well in school. Others, who may have been “out” or “outed”, had to deal with bullying or the more subtle track-blocking. I know of a couple of younger people who for orientation-related reasons, started getting their hours cut in fast food places (one of which was BK, which is not known as tolerant). I know of another person who was respected as a professional until coworkers started rumors, and he started getting… Read more »
Ok, interesting, I just wonder are these people “out” at work? How many of these disparages are affecting people or color, or women? What, are their education levels, typically; what are their ages with these very low incomes? I feel like I can somewhat figure-out/imagine some of these scenarios, given these disparages.
11 million out of 327 million US population equals 3.36%.
Do the math folks.
Christopher-
327 million in the US includes adults and CHILDREN. Article stipulates that the number applies to adults.
Read before you react, folks.
That 4.5% are just the individuals that admit being gay or bi. I imagine the percentage is even quite a bit higher. Most all guys (and gals) have at least a bi side. I also agree that if your gay most likely it’s harder to get higher paying jobs, get employed, and be accepted, even by those in the workplaces who know they are bi or gay, as they have to follow the “norm”. accepted way. The only reason that younger people seem to have a higher LGBTQ percentage is that younger people are more open minded, while older people… Read more »
Well, yes, I suppose those numbers might be close but I’d have to see more specifics of the study to conclude it is accurate. Do you mean the percentage of unemployed, hungry, and uninsured LGBTQ as compared to the same criteria as measured in the general population? I would think so given my observations of the LGBTQ community. I don’t, however, find it particularly surprising for a number of reasons.
Again, as seemingly, always: the overt discrimination is contingent on the obviousness of the individuals. Most Americans will let much ago as long as they do not perceive it as a show of the middle finger. Americans are the most tolerant people on earth…given their diversity and ever-increasing numbers. There will be a burial in the next two weeks, of one-of-our-kind, at one-of-the-military academies, and some of us will be attending. We will be there and we will pay our respects. Those in attendance will know who we are…just as they knew who were were, ’62 – 66′ and they… Read more »
Agreed. When I thought about how low the figure was it made sense. For many many people, being LGBTQ+ falls ever so far below who they are. One of the last things they’ll do is “Identify” with being LGTBQ+. It’s eversomore so a question of when “my people” get together for a celebration, what’s the cultural color? What’s the music being played? What’s the food being eaten?
It’s so little about who we’re sexually attracted to.,
For me this whole article reads of stigma of the LGBTQQAAI community within a larger standardized community. Notice how many acronyms have been added to the spectrum of inclusion. It seems that everything evolves in time to something better once accepted by sub-groups, mainstream or the status quo leading to the breaking of the stigma that hinders or drives an issue. Let’s not forget about all those people who transitioned from AIDS in the 80’s & 90″s most of which were classified part of the LGBT population as young Gay men. 658,507 people in the United States with an AIDS… Read more »
We all have fragilities which can limit us or make us more resilient. This is Human Nature.
We are whom we are and the sooner we adapt to this reality, the less we will complain and emphasize our strengths.
The Mantra of New Hampshire is: “Live Free Or Die.” The Mantra of Nathan is: “Until God Calls Me.”
Really? I always heard that it was 10 percent at the low end and 20 percent at the high end. These numbers here seem incredibly low. I understand that this 3-4 percent is only those who identify as LGBTQ, but there are 3-5 times that number who remain “silent” and/or “closeted” for whatever reason. This is the same with the Hispanic or American Indian population. Stigma, discrimination, and harassment all serve to understate these populations, as well as the threat of deportation in the case of Latinos and Mexicans. Who really knows the answer? And will we ever have a… Read more »
Nobody can really tell the exact number of LGBT people , because there are those who are still not 100% with themselves even though it is 2019 and there are big progress in USA when it comes to LGBT rights. Also Iam surprised about the employment study , because past studies shown the opposite , that LGBT people usually are more educated and more LGBT usually have higher income
There’s a lot more then this. That’s only the number that is out. If you count those who are not out, it would be closer to 50% of the population.
This true but sadly too many want to fit in and chastise the others. Read how some gays here look down on others, but secretly want to sex the very people they criticize.