In a set of Pew Research Center surveys published on May 29, LGBTQ+-identifying adults were questioned about their experiences regarding acceptance for themselves and the greater community. Based upon the findings, the report indicates there has been a marked increase in the number of individuals who identify as Lesbian, gay and bisexual, versus non-binary and transgender.
The study itself is a follow-up on a previous one conducted in 2013, prior to Obergefell v. Hodges, which would grant the right to same-sex marriage across the United States two years later. Before that historic ruling, many felt attitudes towards LGBTQ+ individuals, especially in the Trans community, remained extremely intolerant.
Of the key findings from the focus group, 61 percent of LGBTQ adults say there’s at least a fair amount of acceptance for people who are gay or lesbian. Around half, 52 percent, say the same for people who are bisexual. In direct contrast, fewer say there’s a increased acceptance for people who are non-binary, at just 14 percent, or transgender, at 13 percent.
Compared with the results taken over ten years ago, there is an upward trend in the statistics, with most pointing to a more frequent and positive representation in entertainment and politics, as well as more religious leaders offering their support.
Two-thirds of LGBTQ+ adults felt that the same-sex marriage decision made the greater population feel more accepting of same-sex couples (47 percent), while only 20 percent believe it to have had a greater impact.
A majority of the polls asking how each participant felt about their safety saw an overwhelming amount of LGBTQ+ adults are concerned about their safety, with transgender surveyors ranking at 70 percent, followed by those gay or lesbian identifying at 52 percent and bisexuals at 28 percent.
Transgender individuals who participated in the polls, when compared to others, feel most connected to the LGBTQ community at 41 percent, while those identifying as gay, lesbian and bisexual ranked between 24 and 18 percent.