Homosexuality in the United States - Statistics & Facts

In a recent survey conducted among Americans, 6.4 percent of females and 4.9 percent of males identified themselves as part of the LGBT community. Over recent decades, studies have shown that American society has grown more welcoming or accepting to members of this community, however discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity is still a serious concern in the United States. In 2001, 53 percent of respondents stated they believe gay or lesbian relations to be morally wrong, but in 2020 this number had fallen to 32 percent.

Political division in the U.S.

These shifting attitudes can be reflected in American politics. Since taking office, the Biden administration has prioritized the expansion of LGBT rights and protections, many of which had been rolled back during the preceding four years. In recent decades, the most significant steps forwards for the LGBT communities were taken under the Obama administration. Although originally opposing gay marriage, President Obama changed his stance to support same-sex marriage during his re-election campaign in 2012; while a majority of surveyed voters said this decision did not affect their opinion of him, almost half of Republican respondents stated their opinion of him had become less favorable. Today, 74 percent of young American adult support same-sex marriage.

Global attitudes

Attitudes towards homosexuality vary by region or country, though global trends generally suggest that acceptance of homosexuality is increasing. In Kenya, only one percent of respondents in 2002 declared any acceptance of homosexuality, whereas this increased to 14 percent by 2019. Similarly, in South Korea, South Africa, and in the United States, the level of acceptance grew considerably between 2002 and 2019. Overall, acceptance of the LGBT community is highest in Western Europe, Canada, and Australia, where more than 80 percent of the public declaring that homosexuality should be accepted by society, with Sweden heading the ranking. Trends vary across Europe, however, with respondents in Eastern Europe being less tolerant of the LGBT community, particularly in Ukraine and Russia. Similarly, Nigeria, Tunisia, and Indonesia have incredibly low rates of LGBT acceptance. In spite of the progress made in recent years, homosexual activity remains criminalized in 71 countries, mostly in the Middle-East, Africa, and Asia. In 11 countries, the death penalty is imposed or at least a possibility for private, consensual same-sex sexual activity.

This text provides general information. Statista assumes no liability for the information given being complete or correct. Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date data than referenced in the text.

Americans who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender: 7.1%

Increase in acceptance of homosexuality in the United States between 2013 and 2019: 12%

Americans from generation Z who identify as LGBT: 20.8%

Editor’s Picks Current statistics on this topic

Share of Americans who identify as LGBT from 2012 to 2021, by generation

Love & Sex

Americans who identify as LGBT 2012-2021, by generation

Share of same-sex couples in the United States in 2021, by age of householder

Demographics

Share of same-sex couple households in the U.S. 2021, by age

Number of LGBTQ+ hate crime incidents in the United States in 2020, by location

Violent Crime

Most common locations of anti-LGBTQ+ motivated hate crimes U.S. 2020

Recommended statistics

Global overview

Basic Statistic Number of countries that criminalize homosexuality 2022
Number of countries that criminalize homosexuality 2022
Number of countries that criminalize homosexuality as of 2022
Basic Statistic Number of countries that permit same-sex marriage 2022, by continent
Number of countries that permit same-sex marriage 2022, by continent
Number of countries that have legalized same-sex marriage as of 2022, by continent
Basic Statistic Best-rated countries in the Gay Travel Index 2023
Best-rated countries in the Gay Travel Index 2023
Safest travel destinations for LGBT tourism worldwide in 2023 (index score)

Homosexuality in the United States

Basic Statistic Americans who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender 2012-2021
Americans who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender 2012-2021
Do you, personally, identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender?
Basic Statistic Americans who identify as LGBT 2012-2020, by gender
Americans who identify as LGBT 2012-2020, by gender
Share of Americans who identify as LGBT from 2012 to 2020, by gender
Basic Statistic Americans who identify as LGBT 2012-2021, by generation
Americans who identify as LGBT 2012-2021, by generation
Share of Americans who identify as LGBT from 2012 to 2021, by generation
Basic Statistic Moral stance towards gay or lesbian relations in the United States 2022
Moral stance towards gay or lesbian relations in the United States 2022
Do you think gay or lesbian relations are morally acceptable or morally wrong?
Basic Statistic Moral views on gay or lesbian relations in the United States 2001-2022
Moral views on gay or lesbian relations in the United States 2001-2022
Are gay or lesbian relationships morally acceptable?
Premium Statistic How Americans feel about Pride Month 2021, by residence area
How Americans feel about Pride Month 2021, by residence area
The beginning of June kicks off Pride Month in the U.S. To what extent do you agree or disagree that the following statements describe what Pride means to you?

Same-sex marriage and families

Basic Statistic Survey on the legalization of same-sex marriages in the U.S. 1996 to 2022
Survey on the legalization of same-sex marriages in the U.S. 1996 to 2022
Do you think marriages between same-sex couples should be recognized by law as valid?
Basic Statistic Support for same-sex marriage in the United States 2016-2021, by political party
Support for same-sex marriage in the United States 2016-2021, by political party
Share of Americans who think same-sex marriage should be recognized by the law as valid from 2016 to 2021, by political party affiliation
Basic Statistic Support for same-sex marriage in the United States 2021, by age group
Support for same-sex marriage in the United States 2021, by age group
Share of Americans who think same-sex marriage should be recognized by the law as valid in 2021, by age group
Premium Statistic Percentage of gay couple households U.S. 2021, by race of householder
Percentage of gay couple households U.S. 2021, by race of householder
Percentage of male-male couples in the United States in 2021, sorted by race of householder
Premium Statistic Share of same-sex couple households in the U.S. 2021, by age
Share of same-sex couple households in the U.S. 2021, by age
Share of same-sex couples in the United States in 2021, by age of householder
Premium Statistic Percentage of same-sex couple households U.S. 2021, by children in household
Percentage of same-sex couple households U.S. 2021, by children in household
Percentage of same-sex couples in the United States in 2021, sorted by children in the household
Premium Statistic Number of U.S. same-sex households in 2021, by marital status
Number of U.S. same-sex households in 2021, by marital status
Total number of same-sex households in the United States in 2021, by marital status

Hate crime

Premium Statistic Most common locations of anti-LGBTQ+ motivated hate crimes U.S. 2020
Most common locations of anti-LGBTQ+ motivated hate crimes U.S. 2020
Number of LGBTQ+ hate crime incidents in the United States in 2020, by location
Premium Statistic Victims of anti-homosexuality hate crimes U.S. 2020, by crime
Victims of anti-homosexuality hate crimes U.S. 2020, by crime
Number of victims of hate crimes against gay or lesbian people in the United States in 2020, by crime type
Premium Statistic Number of juvenile victims of LGBTQ+ based hate crimes U.S. 2020
Number of juvenile victims of LGBTQ+ based hate crimes U.S. 2020
Number of juvenile victims of gender or sexual orientation related hate crime in the United States in 2020, by motivation
Premium Statistic Number of victims of LGBTQ+ based hate crimes U.S. 2020
Number of victims of LGBTQ+ based hate crimes U.S. 2020
Number of victims of gender or sexual orientation related hate crime in the United States in 2020, by motivation
Premium Statistic Number of cases of LGBTQ+ related hate crimes U.S. 2020
Number of cases of LGBTQ+ related hate crimes U.S. 2020
Number of gender or sexual orientation related hate crime incidents in the United States in 2020, by motivation

Media

Basic Statistic LGBTQ characters included by streaming providers in the U.S. 2023
LGBTQ characters included by streaming providers in the U.S. 2023
Number of LGBTQ characters in TV series by selected streaming services in the United States in the 2022-2023 season
Basic Statistic Distribution of characters on prime TV in the U.S. 2022, by sexual orientation
Distribution of characters on prime TV in the U.S. 2022, by sexual orientation
Distribution of regular characters on primetime scripted broadcast TV in the United States in the 2021-22 season, by sexual orientation
Basic Statistic LGBTQ characters on cable networks in the U.S. 2022, by sexual orientation
LGBTQ characters on cable networks in the U.S. 2022, by sexual orientation
Distribution of LGBTQ characters in primetime programming on cable networks in the 2021-22 season, by sexual orientation
Basic Statistic LGBTQ characters share on cable networks in the U.S. 2023, by ethnicity
LGBTQ characters share on cable networks in the U.S. 2023, by ethnicity
Distribution of LGBTQ characters on cable networks in the 2022-23 season, by ethnicity

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