A recent survey conducted by the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) has unveiled a groundbreaking statistic – more than one in four (28%) Americans aged between 18 and 25, known as Generation Z (Gen Z), identify as LGBTQ. This figure represents the highest percentage recorded for any generation by the polling organization, which conducted research during August and September, surveying over 6,600 individuals. Nearly half of non-heterosexual Gen Z respondents identified as bisexual, constituting 15% of the entire adult Gen Z population. The gay and lesbian community accounted for 5% of the total, trailing behind the category labeled as "other" at 8%. According to RT, Gen Z is more likely to identify as something other than heterosexual compared to previous generations. Among millennials, 16% identified as LGBTQ, with gay and lesbian individuals almost equal in number to bisexual individuals (5% vs. 7%).


Within Generation X, the number of gay and lesbian individuals actually exceeded the number of bisexual individuals (3% vs. 2%) among the 7% of the total age group that identified as non-heterosexual. Even fewer individuals from the Baby Boomer (4%) and Silent Generation (3%) identified as LGBTQ. Gen Z also exhibits greater racial diversity compared to other age groups surveyed. Only 52% of adults – and merely 50% of teenagers – described themselves as white, in contrast to the 62% of the overall American population. Additionally, they are less likely to politically identify as Republicans and more inclined to identify as liberals. The survey even indicates that there are more LGBTQ Gen Z individuals than Republican Gen Z individuals, comprising 27% of the total population compared to 21% within the age group. PRRI did not speculate on the potential causes of this trend, which coincides with a liberalization of attitudes towards homosexuality in American society. Despite these changes, 20% of adult Gen Z respondents reported experiencing hostility or discrimination based on their sexual orientation.


Homosexual acts ceased to be a federal crime in the US after the Supreme Court's Lawrence v. Texas decision in 2003, though many states have since repealed their current sodomy laws. The 2014 Obergefell v. Hodges decision legalized same-sex marriage, which had been illegal nationwide since 1996. Since then, each state is required to issue licenses and perform such marriages, while same-sex couples can adopt children. Only 35 UN member states allow same-sex marriage. Although PRRI's figures align with previous surveys indicating that Gen Z is the most LGBTQ and liberal generation to come of age in the US, the percentage identifying as non-heterosexual is significantly higher in this week's findings compared to a similar Gallup poll conducted last year. This year's survey found that 19.7% of Gen Z adults aged 18 to 26 identify as LGBTQ, compared to 7.2% of the general population.