How Many People In The United States Identify As Gay?

[Frontier]

I will try to make this simple, but that will probably not be possible. I'll do my best and hope my friends can help me. Obviously we are all familiar with the studies of Alfred Kinsey. The question that has haunted me recently in the past several years is how have the gains we as gays have made in the past decade had an influence on the accuracy of these studies. I expected a greater number of gays in American Society than the most recent studies would indicate. If your interested you can review the article at http://www.kinseyinstitute.org/resources/bib-homoprev.html The most recent study that I found was by G.J. Gates in 2011 and it states "Gates analyzed information from four recent national and two state-level population-based surveys. The analyses suggest that there are more than 8 million adults in the US who are lesbian, gay, or bisexual, comprising 3.5% of the adult population. He estimated an additional 700,000 individuals identified as transgender." For the time being, with no insult intended to our transgender population I am interested in a poll of our members concerning your opinions on the accuracy of the percentages stated concerning the accuracy of the most recent data published by Mr. Gates. Please take the time to participate in my poll. Yeah I know I'm a poll junky. I realize that this poll will not cover all aspects but I am not an expert in statistics. Just a curious guy.

 

[BSB_WebMonkey]

I always thought 10% felt right.

 

[SGVBOB]

"We will never know", was my choice, for ONE simple reason: the VALID definition of "gay", is a "HOMOSEXUAL" person. That being said, we all know that the majority of people, whether gay/straight/bi FIRST need to ADMIT to THEMSELF that they are not 100% hetero, (remember the so called 'childs play'?), this is extremely common. (Summing up, everyone has some degree of latent homosexuality, it depends on the individual/individual's genetic make-up, as to whether he/she will act on it.) *NOTE: I am NOT saying this is the same principle as being 'predisposed to addiction', due to heredity. Just my opinion.

 

[BSB_WebMonkey]

Given how many are on Grindr or Adam4Adam or Scruff, you would think the planet is gay hehe

 

[rrhill]

Let me help you... People were gay, before people invented God. Not just humans, almost all species have some remarkable sexual preferences. Research show that 1 in 10 people is bisexual, 1 in 20 is gay. In total about 7% of the population prefers to live with someone of their own sex.

This number has been constant over many years, and not changed. Hitler try to exterminate gay people during the Holocaust... the number of gays returned to normal after a while.

 

[mikeyank]

Let me help you... People were gay, before people invented God. Not just humans, almost all species have some remarkable sexual preferences. Research show that 1 in 10 people is bisexual, 1 in 20 is gay. In total about 7% of the population prefers to live with someone of their own sex.

This number has been constant over many years, and not changed. Hitler try to exterminate gay people during the Holocaust... the number of gays returned to normal after a while.

I always believed that the number was 10% which is the same as Robert's 1 in 10 people are bisexual. I guess you could say that 10% of the population have same sex partners, at least some of the time.

 

[BSB_WebMonkey]

I think the planet is more gay/lesbian than popular press acknowledges. Becides, I think we hold all the important posts of power everywhere.

 

[mikeyank]

I think the planet is more gay/lesbian than popular press acknowledges. Becides, I think we hold all the important posts of power everywhere.

WebMonkey, are you KRU1996???? Are all the world leaders, like all our professional athletes actually busy fucking like the boys at the frathouse?

 

[BSB_WebMonkey]

haha I love central texas, i lived there once, and cant even imagine a gay frat like kru describes, but i enjoy reading, let me tell ya.

 

[erikthbod]

haha I love central texas, i lived there once, and cant even imagine a gay frat like kru describes, but i enjoy reading, let me tell ya.

LoL... you ever watche "Fraternity X" that's suppose to be in Arizona.

 

[erikthbod]

Ftontier.... I looked at the results I voted. 15% had a 28.75% after I voted it jumped to 37.50%... Man, I felt real important because my vote changed everything... lol. I really believe it is even greater than 15%. There are a bunch of folks still in the closet. I live way out in the country (rural area) and I know alot of guys who will get wild as hell with another guy but, will still say they are str8 as hell.
Oh... maybe it's DENIAL !

 

[BSB Jason]

So I voted that we will never really know. Because in actuality we won’t. Someone somewhere will always have that fear of societies rejection keeping them from coming out. Fortunately we live in a time where it’s becoming much easier and less judged. Today’s society is filled with far too many barriers and labels that are obsolete and unnecessary. Life isn’t about male or female. Gay or straight being big small short or tall. It’s about being diverse. Accepting difference and accommodating and adapting to change so that we may sustain a more perfect union. It’s imperative that we recognize the rights of all individuals and the respect that should be afforded to EVERYONE based on the fact that they too are human beings if for no other reason. Irrespective of personal, religious or moral beliefs. The same rights that allow us to disagree with others and their beliefs must always continue to promote the acceptance of others ability to conceive thoughts, dreams beliefs and opinions. Disagreeing is a natural reaction to conflict or a different agenda. We must never allow our personal feelings to prevent another from believing theirs. If we do ... then we must equally forfeit our right to ! Fuck hate, fuck labels... HEARTS NOT PARTS

 

[joninliverton]

I am not American so I have not voted. In the few short years since I have been sexually active I've noted many more gay guys have come out of the closet. The uk gay meet website Gaydar.co.uk has increased by thousands since I first perused it and since the invention of App Phones we have seen Apps like Grindr, JackD, and others appear. I look at Cam4 a lot and obviously visit the Male section where there are hundreds of guys having sex or jerking off. Many of these guys classify themselves as str8 but their room is always full of gay guys.

 

[reeseyboy]

So I voted that we will never really know. Because in actuality we won’t. Someone somewhere will always have that fear of societies rejection keeping them from coming out. Fortunately we live in a time where it’s becoming much easier and less judged. Today’s society is filled with far too many barriers and labels that are obsolete and unnecessary. Life isn’t about male or female. Gay or straight being big small short or tall. It’s about being diverse. Accepting difference and accommodating and adapting to change so that we may sustain a more perfect union. It’s imperative that we recognize the rights of all individuals and the respect that should be afforded to EVERYONE based on the fact that they too are human beings if for no other reason. Irrespective of personal, religious or moral beliefs. The same rights that allow us to disagree with others and their beliefs must always continue to promote the acceptance of others ability to conceive thoughts, dreams beliefs and opinions. Disagreeing is a natural reaction to conflict or a different agenda. We must never allow our personal feelings to prevent another from believing theirs. If we do ... then we must equally forfeit our right to ! Fuck hate, fuck labels... HEARTS NOT PARTS

such good queer thought; do you ever read queer theory books? (I know it is a geeky question but 'eh I'm a grad student)

 

[Phantom]

I voted that we can't know for two reasons.

1) There are still several areas in America where it is not socially acceptable to be gay, so several are probably still in the closet.

2) Some people do not broadcast their sexual preferences and keep their sex lives to themselves. That doesn't necessarily mean that they are ashamed of being gay/bi. It could just mean that they are private people that just want to live their lives.

The point is that we lack information. You could probably come up with an approximate figure, but it will not be completely accurate for the reasons I listed and other reasons I didn't.

 

[cumrag27]

What an inclusive statement from Jason!

So I voted that we will never really know. Because in actuality we won’t. Someone somewhere will always have that fear of societies rejection keeping them from coming out. Fortunately we live in a time where it’s becoming much easier and less judged. Today’s society is filled with far too many barriers and labels that are obsolete and unnecessary. Life isn’t about male or female. Gay or straight being big small short or tall. It’s about being diverse. Accepting difference and accommodating and adapting to change so that we may sustain a more perfect union. It’s imperative that we recognize the rights of all individuals and the respect that should be afforded to EVERYONE based on the fact that they too are human beings if for no other reason. Irrespective of personal, religious or moral beliefs. The same rights that allow us to disagree with others and their beliefs must always continue to promote the acceptance of others ability to conceive thoughts, dreams beliefs and opinions. Disagreeing is a natural reaction to conflict or a different agenda. We must never allow our personal feelings to prevent another from believing theirs. If we do ... then we must equally forfeit our right to ! Fuck hate, fuck labels... HEARTS NOT PARTS!

Dear Jason,

I have been exclusively gay all my life. When I first considered this concept in my unfettered but ripe imagination at age 11, I mistakenly calculated as most assumed the "H-word" was, at the very minimum, a rejection of ALL masculine characteristics OR feelings one might have been incorrectly been predisposed at conception, inexplicably favoring the opposite gender in contrast to one's own physical equipment already assigned, causing potentially general feelings of lifelong sexual incongruence and self-doubt. Ain't it amazing at age 11 only armed with minimal scientific understanding, a pre-teen could even create out of whole cloth this notion that someone might indeed be either given sexual characteristics of both sexes or not be completely insync with others within their assumed same-sex peer group as if assigned in a "Totally Random Crap-Shoot", without regard for biologically mishaps when assigned sex characteristics!

Therefore, with the entire array of mind tricks that can be played upon one's own identity while advancing through the "Sexual Maturation Process", even without having unwanted outside encouragement and negative influences through unsolicited sexual trauma, I think it is only reasonable there should be at least

"some "minimal degree of ambivalence"
found frequently in the minds of most adults concerning their own sexual identity process",
whether conscienciously or unconscienciously.​

.

I certainly do not need a...

"specific target percentage to validate my Sexual Preference stance"!​

I feel that there will always be a great degree of inaccuracy in getting truly correct numbers due to the perceived social pitfalls of taking a specific stand. As more people in the spotlight "Come Out", one would naturally hope others will be emboldened to follow their lead. Just ask in any group of people...

"How many people freely declare themself totally Democrat or Republican?​

The common tendency is to "straddle the political fence" is analogous to acknowledging publicly one's distinct sexual orientation.

Then, you must also include the issue of "Perceived Sexual Identity" based on physical sexual characteristics versus sexual identity based on emotional characteristics, regardless of the often conflicting physical characteristics. If your mental identity tells you are a female, but you have only the male genitalia present and accounted for, then of course, these people with their unique non-biologically determined mental identity needs to be acknowledged according to their own preference based on personally defined natural inclinations and regardless of the physical reality.

Obviously, the acceptance of a lot of fluidity when determining one's own sexual identity IS A MUST THAT MUST BE RESPECTED!!!



Sincerely loving these deep topics,



Stimpy

 

[BSB Jason]

such good queer thought; do you ever read queer theory books? (I know it is a geeky question but 'eh I'm a grad student)

Until now, I wasnt even aware that there was such a thing as "queer theory" perhaps something worth looking into. Could be interesting and im always up for a good read !

 

[mikeyank]

Dear Jason,

I have been exclusively gay all my life. When I first considered this concept in my unfettered but ripe imagination at age 11, I mistakenly calculated as most assumed the "H-word" was, at the very minimum, a rejection of ALL masculine characteristics OR feelings one might have been incorrectly been predisposed at conception, inexplicably favoring the opposite gender in contrast to one's own physical equipment already assigned, causing potentially general feelings of lifelong sexual incongruence and self-doubt. Ain't it amazing at age 11 only armed with minimal scientific understanding, a pre-teen could even create out of whole cloth this notion that someone might indeed be either given sexual characteristics of both sexes or not be completely insync with others within their assumed same-sex peer group as if assigned in a "Totally Random Crap-Shoot", without regard for biologically mishaps when assigned sex characteristics!

Therefore, with the entire array of mind tricks that can be played upon one's own identity while advancing through the "Sexual Maturation Process", even without having unwanted outside encouragement and negative influences through unsolicited sexual trauma, I think it is only reasonable there should be at least

"some "minimal degree of ambivalence"
found frequently in the minds of most adults concerning their own sexual identity process",
whether conscienciously or unconscienciously.​

.

I certainly do not need a...

"specific target percentage to validate my Sexual Preference stance"!​

I feel that there will always be a great degree of inaccuracy in getting truly correct numbers due to the perceived social pitfalls of taking a specific stand. As more people in the spotlight "Come Out", one would naturally hope others will be emboldened to follow their lead. Just ask in any group of people...

"How many people freely declare themself totally Democrat or Republican?​

The common tendency is to "straddle the political fence" is analogous to acknowledging publicly one's distinct sexual orientation.

Then, you must also include the issue of "Perceived Sexual Identity" based on physical sexual characteristics versus sexual identity based on emotional characteristics, regardless of the often conflicting physical characteristics. If your mental identity tells you are a female, but you have only the male genitalia present and accounted for, then of course, these people with their unique non-biologically determined mental identity needs to be acknowledged according to their own preference based on personally defined natural inclinations and regardless of the physical reality.

Obviously, the acceptance of a lot of fluidity when determining one's own sexual identity IS A MUST THAT MUST BE RESPECTED!!!



Sincerely loving these deep topics,



Stimpy

I also knew from a very early age that I was gay, or "homosexual" was the word that I knew about as a young guy. I used to go into the school and public libraries and use the reference books to find books and articles about being homosexual.

But I never thought of myself as feminine or "girlish". The only difference I felt between myself and my friends and the rest of society was that I liked to look at boys naked bodies and not girls, and I was into penis and not vagina.

I voted more than 5% in this poll, as I believe that 10% of the population is and always has been homosexual or bisexual. The next option in the poll is over 10%, so I voted over 5% as I don't think it is over 10%.

My belief is the same percentage has always been there in society, going way back to ancient times. However I do believe that today more people are able to accept who and what they are.

After voting in this poll early on, I am now unclear what the creator of the poll means. Are you asking about how people identify themselves, or what the real numbers are, including self denying folks? If you are speaking of the latter, then I might want to change my vote.

 

[JLipps4u]

The problem with this poll is that it asks how many gays in Amerca. that statement implies then, that the result include only those who accept that they are gay. For many reasons, that EXCLUDES that percentage of the population that does not accept that label, or, those who are oblivious to their true sexuality. The poll then leaves much to speculation and therefore more questions than it answers.

 

[rrhill]

If you wanna know it all, why not check: demographics of sexual orientation.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_sexual_orientation