It was once taboo — even dangerous — to be out and proud as a gay, lesbian, or bisexual person, but now Pride Month brings crowds of rainbow-clad people to the streets to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community.
Today’s dating apps often have 10 or more possible sexual orientations to choose from, including fluid and questioning for individuals still exploring their sexuality.
A sex-positive culture is on the rise nowadays. Many people have come to realize that sex is a natural part of life, and talking about sex openly can change everything. The more we understand sexual topics, the more we can foster healthy sexual relationships rooted in consent and communication.
Understanding the changing norms around sexual activity can help individuals better navigate dating situations (not to mention situationships). In this article, we have compiled data to provide insights into human sexuality.
1. Approximately 85% of Americans Identify as Straight
According to the U.S. government census, a whopping 85.7% of Americans identify as straight.1 This number should come as no surprise to readers because Western society has accepted heteronormative practices for centuries.
Every human being, regardless of sexual orientation, deserves to live with support, respect, and dignity. Unfortunately, multiple studies show that bullying remains commonplace, and non-heterosexual teenagers have more mental health challenges than their straight peers.
We as a society still have a lot to do to fight against the hate, abuse, and discrimination faced by queer youth.
2. Less Than 10% of Adult Americans Identify as LGBTQ+
Data from Gallup Poll reveals that more Americans are identifying as LGBTQ+ than ever before.2 Currently, an average of 9.3% of the U.S. population identifies as part of the LGBTQ+ community. This is a nice jump of 3.5% since the poll began in 2012.
There’s been a sizable shift in societal attitudes toward sexuality and diverse identities. We’re still evolving, but the trends show that more and more people are willing to come forth and speak their truth — so we expect that 9.3% to climb even higher in the years to come.
3. One in Six Young Adults Are LGBTQ+
According to a 2024 report from the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law, nearly 1 in 6 young adults is part of the LGBTQ+ community. This age group includes individuals between the ages of 18 and 24.3
Younger Americans are more openly experimenting and expressing their sexuality and gender identity with fewer reservations than previous generations.
Gen Zers are open-minded, curious, and more willing to challenge traditional norms on things like monogamy and heteronormative coupling.
4. Only 19% of Bisexual People Are Out of the Closet
Although more people are identifying as LGBTQ+, there’s still a large number of people who remain quiet about their sexual identity –– especially bisexual people. According to recent findings from the Pew Research Center, only 19% of bisexual individuals are fully out of the closet.4
In plain English, being bisexual means being attracted to both men and women.
Bisexual people may stay closeted out of fear of judgment and not wanting to face the stigmas that come from both heterosexual and LGBTQ+ communities.
Oftentimes, bisexual people feel great pressure to “pick a side” or else their identity won’t be taken seriously. It can be easier for them to hide their queerness too if they’re dating someone of the opposite sex.
5. About 54% of Partnered Seniors Are Sexually Active
Sex isn’t only for young people. Data shows that 54% of senior partners are sexually active.5 Sex is pretty fun, regardless of their ages. What differs is the frequency of sexual activity. The older the couple is, the less often they report having sex.
Dialogue is the key to a mature partnership. Senior partners can keep their relationship strong by talking about their physical health, sexual health, and lifestyle.
“When people have sexual frustrations that they bottle up, it can spill over into the relationship in unhealthy ways,” Dr. Justin Lehmiller explained. “And the longer partners go without addressing the issue, the bigger the problems become.”
6. Between 1-2% of People in the US Are Asexual
A recent study by the Williams Institute found that about 1.7% of minor adults identify as asexual.6 The researchers also found that asexual people tended to be younger, female, or gender non-binary and were assigned female at birth. This study compared asexuals to non-sexual LGBT adults.
Asexuality is not often studied by academics, so information and insights about this orientation is still evolving.
The study author Ian H. Meyer made a caveat on the data: “It is important to note, however, that this study only included asexual people who also identify as LGB, so the results are pertinent to a segment of the total asexual population. We have more to learn about asexual heterosexuals.”
7. American Men Have At Least 6 Sexual Partners on Average
You may need to kiss many frogs before you find your prince. This tagline is very true for modern singles in the dating scene, especially with swipe culture providing plenty of opportunities for mixing and matching.
It appears that most sexually active adults have kissed and gone further with quite a few potential partners. The research from the Kinsey Institute shows that the median number of opposite-sex partners that American men and women aged 25-44 have in their lifetime is 6.6 for men and 4.3 for women.7
8. More Than 1 in 5 Americans Have an STI
Being sexually active doesn’t come without its risks. Sexual contact can cause STIs in some cases. One in five people in the U.S. have sexually transmitted infections (STIs). STIs counted for nearly 68 million infections in the U.S. in 2018, with half of new STIs affecting U.S. youths aged 15-24.
This number is staggering. That’s why it’s essential to practice safe sex to protect yourself and your partner from STIs.
If untreated, STIs can lead to serious health problems, from infertility to chronic pain and cancer. Don’t panic though, as many STIs are treatable with medication.
By taking care of your sexual health and taking the necessary precautions to stay safe, you can enjoy a fulfilling sexual life with your partner.
9. More Women Than Men Identify as Bisexual
Studies on sexuality have consistently shown that women are significantly more likely than men to identify as bisexual. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 5.5% of women identify as bisexual, compared to only 1.8% of men.8
A bisexual person doesn’t have a preference in terms of their partner’s gender, but they’re often pressured to identify as straight or gay. Or they may be seen as experimenting, questioning, or going through a phase, even if they’ve been openly bisexual for years.
“Bisexuality is not homosexuality in disguise, nor is it disguised heterosexuality. It is another way of sexual expression.” — Fritz Klien, American psychiatrist
Bisexual singles often don’t come out to their dates because of the skepticism they face. And because some men think bisexual women only exist to engage in threesomes.
Sexuality is a complex and personal experience, and bisexuality is a valid way to identify. More research is needed to understand the factors that contribute to the bisexual identity and their dating patterns on a more in-depth level.
10. Over 60 Countries Criminalize Homosexuality
LGBTQ+ people still struggle for acceptance and legitimacy in the world. Certain religious beliefs, social norms, and small-minded thinking can foster a homophobic culture that tries to dismiss and delete queer identities. Experts say that 67 countries criminalize homosexuality today.9
The LGBTQ+ community faces tons of challenges on a daily basis. They’re often vulnerable to becoming the victims of hate, as this next stat highlights.
11. LGBTQ+ People Are Twice as Likely to be Victimized
According to the Bureau of Justice report, the rate of violent victimization is higher for LGBTQ+ than for straight people. Lesbians and gay people are twice as likely to become victims of violence, and the violence victimization rate for transgender individuals is 2.5 times that of cisgender individuals.10
It can be dangerous for queer people to even use gay dating apps in certain parts of the world.
Sadly, only 58% of violent crimes against the LGBTQ+ community are reported to the police. Additionally, 25% of gay men report experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV) of some sort. This could be rape, physical violence, or stalking as teenagers or adults.11
12. About 40% of Women Find Pleasure in Anal Play
There are a lot of studies seeking to shed light on the female orgasm and what women want in the bedroom.
According to a U.S. nationally representative survey, anal play appeals to about 40% of women12. The experts behind the study made inquiries about three sexual techniques: anal surfacing, anal shallowing, and anal pairing.
This could introduce a new level of pleasure to an adult’s sex life. When you can identify your preferences, sex becomes more fun, and the spark of your relationship will light up.
13. Almost 8% of Oregon Residents Identify as Gay
Many Americans might assume that a large liberal state such as California or New York might have the largest population of LGBTQ+ people. But it’s actually Oregon that boasts having the highest percentage of rainbow residents.13
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 7.8% of Oregon residents are LGBTQ+, making it the gayest state in the nation. Delaware, Vermont, and New Hampshire were the next highest.
Utah has the highest percentage of straight people, with 94% of its residents identifying as heterosexual.
14. About 14% of Washington, DC Residents are LGBTQ+
The Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law revealed that 14.3% of Washington, DC residents identify as LGBT. This number is the highest in the U.S. That’s right, the nation’s capital isn’t just the heart of politics but also a hub of LGBTQ+ pride.14
Since the passage of the DC Human Rights Act in 1977, it has been prohibited to discriminate based on a person’s sexual orientation and identity. This law has helped thousands of LGBTQ+ residents in DC feel safe and like they belong.15
The city embraces queer culture and is always looking ahead to how to make the neighborhoods more inclusive. Even in these trying times, DC residents rally together to be a beacon for progress and foster a place where LGBTQ+ people aren’t only accepted but celebrated.
FAQs: What Percent of Americans Support LGBTQ+ Rights?
Thankfully, support for LGBTQ+ rights in the U.S. has grown significantly over the years. According to recent polls, around 70-80% of Americans are more open and support things like equal job opportunities, protections against discrimination, and same-sex marriage.
The younger generations tend to be most supportive and show it by showing up at Pride events and advocating for LGBTQ+ rights via social media.
Although people may not fully agree with every aspect of LGBTQ+ rights or gender identity, many still agree that they’re human and deserve basic fairness and equal treatment. Which is beautiful because it’s a sign that even with differences in opinions, there’s this growing recognition that everyone deserves respect and freedom to live as their authentic selves.
What Is the Six-Point Sexuality Scale?
The Six-Point Sexuality Scale is better known as the Kinsey Scale. It was created by Dr. Alfred Kinsey in the 1940s. His goal was to help better explain human sexuality as part of a spectrum.
The scale ranges from zero to six and is fairly simple to understand. A zero means that someone is exclusively heterosexual, and a six means that they are exclusively homosexual. Numbers that are in between represent different levels of attraction to both genders.
The Six-Point Sexuality Scale was one of the first tools to challenge the whole idea that sexuality is fixed and binary.
Since it became public, people have used the Six-Point Sexuality Scale to determine where they are on the spectrum.
Yes, it’s a bit dated and doesn’t include new identities such as asexual or pansexual, but it has helped many understand themselves better and opened up the door for more conversations about the fluidity of sexuality. You may not fit into one box — and that’s completely OK!
Sexuality is Always Changing – and Surveys Help Us Keep Up!
Sexuality is a complex and evolving topic in human life. Our culture and values can change the way we view sexuality. By gathering data on sexual orientation, gender identity, and sexual behavior, we can better understand the societal norms and trends that continue to shape our dating lives.
A person with a full understanding of human sexuality is better prepared to date, connect, sext, and thrive in adult relationships. It’s important to study sexuality statistics so that we can learn to view each other’s passions and proclivities with greater compassion.
By staying open-minded, we can create a society where individuals feel safe to express their true selves.
Sources:
- https://news.gallup.com/poll/656708/lgbtq-identification-rises.aspx ↩︎
- https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/20/health/lgbtq-population-rise-united-states-wellness/index.html ↩︎
- https://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/publications/adult-lgbt-pop-us/ ↩︎
- https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/06/23/5-key-findings-about-lgbtq-americans/ ↩︎
- https://www.michiganmedicine.org/health-lab/sex-after-65-poll-finds-gender-differences-lack-communication ↩︎
- https://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/press/sm-asexuals-press-release/ ↩︎
- https://kinseyinstitute.org/research/faq.php ↩︎
- https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhsr/nhsr088.pdf ↩︎
- https://features.hrw.org/features/features/lgbt_laws/ ↩︎
- https://bjs.ojp.gov/library/publications/violent-victimization-sexual-orientation-and-gender-identity-2017-2020 ↩︎
- https://www.datingadvice.com/studies/dvs ↩︎
- https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0268785#sec020 ↩︎
- https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/12/27/lgbtq-population-by-state/71891834007/ ↩︎
- https://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/2311-LGBT-Adults_Fig-1.png ↩︎
- https://ohr.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/ohr/publication/attachments/LawsAndRegs-HumanRightsAct-1977-English.pdf ↩︎
