Nearly 20% of LGBTQ Adults Have Never Come Out, Gallup Survey Reveals

Younger Generations Coming Out Earlier

While Americans are generally coming out at younger ages compared to previous years, a significant portion of LGBTQ adults, approximately 20%, have never disclosed their LGBTQ identity to anyone. According to a recent Gallup survey, 18% of LGBTQ adults have never come out, despite a societal shift towards greater acceptance over the last decade.

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Comfort Levels with Disclosure Vary

“Roughly 1 in 5 LGBTQ+ Americans are comfortable telling Gallup that they’re LGBTQ+, but not comfortable telling others,” noted Justin McCarthy, an analyst at Gallup. The survey found that this tendency is more prevalent among bisexual individuals, with 23% not having come out to anyone, compared to 5% of gay and lesbian adults. Gender-wise, 16% of LGBTQ men and 19% of LGBTQ women reported not being out.

Societal Acceptance and Personal Discrimination

Despite 70% of LGBTQ adults acknowledging that societal acceptance has improved, with 70% indicating it has “gotten a lot” or “a little” better in the past ten years, personal experiences of discrimination persist. One in four LGBTQ individuals reported facing discrimination in the past year, with 36% of gay and lesbian adults experiencing such incidents.

Awareness of LGBTQ Identity Across Generations

The survey highlighted that LGBTQ adults became aware of their sexual orientation or gender identity at similar ages across generations: 14 years old for those aged 18-29, 15 for those aged 30-64, and 16 for those aged 65 and older.

Coming Out Age Trends

Nearly 71% of LGBTQ adults reported coming out before the age of 30, with 57% doing so by age 22. Meanwhile, 10% of LGBTQ adults came out later in life, including 7% in their 30s, 2% in their 40s, and 1% at age 50 or older. Younger LGBTQ adults (18-29) typically came out at a median age of 17, whereas older adults (30-64) did so in their early 20s, and those 65 and older came out at a median age of 26.

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Duration Between Realization and Disclosure

Gallup found that young LGBTQ adults waited the shortest period, about three years, between realizing their LGBTQ identity and coming out, compared to senior citizens who waited around ten years. Despite the majority’s view that societal acceptance has improved, 20% of respondents believe that society’s treatment of LGBTQ people has worsened.

Ongoing Research and Future Insights

Justin McCarthy emphasized the need for continued research to monitor these trends, questioning whether societal acceptance will continue to improve or if attitudes will shift. The survey, conducted online from May 1-15, is part of Gallup’s decade-long research into LGBTQ experiences. Previous Gallup studies have noted an increase in the percentage of LGBTQ adults in the U.S., reaching 7.6% in 2023, with a significant portion of Gen Z women identifying as LGBTQ, predominantly as bisexual.

US LGBT News

For those looking for more news specific to the United States, we invite you to visit the “US LGBT News” section of Queer Vibes magazine. Just a click away, this dedicated category offers a wide range of articles, features, and updates focused exclusively on LGBTQ+ issues, events, and stories within the United States. Whether you’re looking for inspiration, information, or just a connection to the US LGBTQ+ community, our “US LGBT News” section is your go-to resource.