LGBTQ+ Population Grows, Especially Among Gen Z - Lifeway Research (2024)

Around 1 in 13 U.S. adults (7.6%) identify as LGBTQ+, including 22.3% of Generation Z, according to the latest Gallup survey.

By Aaron Earls

Around 1 in 13 U.S. adults identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or another sexual orientation besides heterosexual, according to the latest Gallup survey.

When Gallup first measured LGBTQ+ identification in the U.S., 3.5% claimed a non-straight label in 2012. By 2020, 5.6% identified as such. That jumped to 7.1% in 2021 and has increased incrementally since then—7.2% in 2022 and 7.6% in 2023.

Overall, more than 4 in 5 Americans (85.6%) say they are straight or heterosexual, 7.6% claim one of the LGBTQ+ groups, and 6.8% decline to answer the question.

Among those who say they are non-heterosexual, bisexual is the most popular label at 4.4% of U.S. adults. Slightly more than 1% say they are gay (1.4%) or lesbian (1.2%). Fewer identify as transgender (0.9%). Other identifiers such as pansexual or asexual represent even smaller percentages of Americans.

More than 4 in 5 Americans (85.6%) say they are straight or heterosexual, 7.6% identify as LGBTQ+, and 6.8% decline to answer the question, according to Gallup. Share on X

Gen Z and LGBTQ+ identity

The recent increase in adults identifying as LGBTQ+ comes primarily from younger generations. Each generation is generally about twice as likely as the previous to claim a non-heterosexual label. Among Gen Z, more than 1 in 5 (22.3%) say they are LGBTQ+, far more than millennials (9.8%), Gen X (4.5%), baby boomers (2.3%), and the silent generation (1.1%).

Most generations remained statistically unchanged from 2022 to 2023, but the percentage of LGBTQ+ members of Gen Z grew. In 2022, 19.7% of the youngest adult generation identified as non-heterosexual. That climbed to 22.3% in 2023.

Sean McDowell, author ofChasing Lovesays he’s not surprised by the percentage of Gen Z identifying as LGBTQ. “Young people today have grown up with a nearly ubiquitous exposure to LGBTQ narrative about identity and relationships in schools, the media, social media, Netflix, and many other avenues,” he says. “It’s also personal to them because virtually every young Christian today knows someone who identifies as LGBTQ.”

Among Gen Z, more than 1 in 5 (22.3%) say they are LGBTQ+, far more than millennials (9.8%), Gen X (4.5%), baby boomers (2.3%), and the silent generation (1.1%). Share on X

Women and LGBTQ+ identity

Age is not the only demographic significant difference. Women (8.5%) are almost twice as likely as men (4.7%) to consider themselves as part of a non-straight sexual orientation. In fact, a higher percentage of women identify as bisexual (5.7%) than identify as any LGBTQ+ orientation (4.7%).

Younger women are the most likely demographic to say they aren’t heterosexual. LGBTQ+ identifying individuals are more likely to be women than men among Gen Z (28.5% of women v. 10.6% of men), millennials (12.4% v. 5.4%), and Gen X (4.7% v. 3.5%). The differences among boomers (1.9% v. 2.7%) and the silent generation (0.8 v. 1.2%) are less than one percentage point.

In particular, Gen Z women are more than twice as likely as any other age and gender demographic to identify as transgender (2.1%). “Gender confusion is not just growing, it’s erupting, and by a landslide, it’s girls who seem to be most affected by the explosion,” Katie McCoy writes in To Be a Woman.

What previously was recognized as insecurities and trauma in a young girl have increasingly become diagnosed as a transgender identity, according to McCoy. “A generation of girls is manifesting their pain through transgender identities, while those charged with their care neglect the sources of their mental suffering,” she says.

“Gender confusion is not just growing, it’s erupting, and by a landslide, it’s girls who seem to be most affected by the explosion.” — @blondeorthodoxy Share on X

Gospel engagement

Many Christians think about how to engage with the issue, but often it may be more appropriate to engage with people and point them to the gospel. Jeff Iorg, editor of Ministry in the New Marriage Culture, says, “We are not identity-correction or culture-change evangelists. We are gospel-tellers with a story of salvation that is universally applicable—no matter the presenting behavior or perspective of the lost person we are engaging.”

While 1 in 5 pastors say they see nothing wrong with two people of the same gender getting married, most pastors aren’t directly confronted with gay marriage. Almost 9 in 10 U.S. Protestant pastors (87%) say they have never been asked to perform a same-sex marriage ceremony.

Pastors are, however, dealing with it from a personal and ministry standpoint. They are split on where an LGBTQ+ person can serve within their churches—31% say nowhere, 22% say at least one area but not anywhere, 28% say anywhere, and 19% say they haven’t discussed it or aren’t sure. Additionally, 48% of pastors say they know someone who identifies as transgender.

With the increased LGBTQ+ population and personal engagement among Christians, churches and pastors may need to change their approach, even while holding fast to their theological commitments.

“The truthfulness of the biblical commands surrounding gender and sexuality has not changed. God’s design and desire is for us to enjoy His good gift of sex within the boundaries of a committed, marital relationship between one man and one woman,” says Ben Trueblood, executive director of church ministries at Lifeway.

“Churchgoers, however, desire and need more from those who are equipping them than simply a restatement of the biblical principle. The surrounding conversation is louder and closer to home than ever before. And it takes skill and courage to faithfully apply that principle today.”

For permission to republish this article, contactMarissa Postell Sullivan.

Aaron Earls

@WardrobeDoor

Aaron is the senior writer at Lifeway Research.