An average of nine per cent adults in 30 countries identifies themselves as LGBT, with sharp generational differences, according to a recent survey by IPSOS.
SEXUAL ORIENTATION
In the survey across the 30 countries, IPSOS found that three percent of adults identify as lesbian or gay, four percent as bisexual, one percent as pansexual or omnisexualand one percent as asexual.
Gen Zers are about twice as likely as Millennials and four times as likely as Gen Xers and Boomers to identify as bisexual, pansexual/ omnisexual, or asexual.
IPSOS said men are more likely than women to identify as gay/lesbian/homosexual (4% vs. 1% on average globally), but both are equally likely to identify as bisexual, pansexual/omnisexual, or asexual.
It also said respondents from Spain are most likely to say they are gay or lesbian (6%). In Brazil and the Netherlands, the survey found seven percent identifying themselves as bisexual. In Japan, less than one percent identified as gay, lesbian and bisexual.
On gender identity, the survey found that one percent described themselves as transgender. It said another one percent identified as non-binary, gender non-conforming, or gender fluid.
Overall, the average share of the self-identified LGBT+ population is nine percent, the IPSOS survey noted. The share of self-identified LGBT+ adults varies widely across generations and geographies, it said. IPSOS said it varied from a 30-country average of 18% among Gen Zers to 4% among Baby Boomers, and from 15% of all respondents in Brazil to 4% in Peru.
LGBT+ VISIBILITY IS UP
The IPSOS points out that visibility of LGBT+ increased since the previous LGBT+ Pride survey, two years ago. The authors noted 47 percent of all adults said they have a relative, friend, or work colleague who is a lesbian/gay/ homosexual, up 5 points since 2021. About 26 percent said they know someone who is bisexual. It noted 13 percent said they know someone who is transgender. About 12 percent say they know someone who is non-binary, gender non-conforming, or gender fluid.
LGBT+ visibility varies widely across countries. Latin America, Spain, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa most commonly reports of people having a relative, friend, or work colleague who is lesbian/gay or bisexual. Gender diversity is most visible throughout the Anglosphere, in Brazil, and especially in Thailand.
On the other hand, the visibility of different segments of the LGBT+ community is lowest in Japan, South Korea, Turkey, Romania, Hungary, and Poland.
Women are more likely than men to report knowing people of different sexual orientations and gender identities. Consistent with self-identification, the prevalence of knowing someone who is LGBT+ is much higher among younger adults than among older adults. Generational differences are particularly pronounced when it comes to knowing people who are bisexual and people who are non-binary/ gender non-conforming or fluid: in both cases, Gen Zers are twice as likely as Gen Xers, and three times as likely as Boomers, to say they do.
MAJORITIES SUPPORT SAME-SEX MARRIAGE
On average56 percent say same-sex couples should be allowed to marry legally. Meanwhile 16 percent say they should be allowed to obtain some legal recognition, but not to marry. About 14 percent say they should not be allowed to marry or get any kind of legal recognition. Another 14% are not sure.
Support for same-sex marriage ranges from 49% to 80% in all 20 countries surveyed where it is legal.
VIEWS ON SAME-SEX MARRIAGE BY COUNTRY
Women are significantly more likely than men to support same-sex marriage with a difference between both of 10 percentage points on average globally.
In 2021, support for same-sex marriage was significantly higher in 13 of the 15 countries where Ipsos began tracking it in 2013. However, it has plateaued or declined in many countries over the past two years. Of the 23 countries Ipsos surveyed both in 2021 and 2023, nine show a decline of four points or more in the percentage saying same-sex couples should be allowed to marry legally. Canada, Germany, the United States, Mexico, the Netherlands, Sweden, Great Britain, Brazil, and Turkey show a decline. Meanwhile, France and Perushow an increase of four points or more.
Globally, 65% say same-sex couples are just as likely as other parents to raise children successfully. About 64 percent say they should have the same rights to adopt children as heterosexual couples do. These views are held by majorities in 26 countries, including several where same-sex couples are not allowed to adopt. Poland, Turkey, Romania, and South Korea disagree than agree with both opinions are
Again, women are more supportive of same-sex parenting than are men (by an average of about 10 points) as are younger adults vs. older adults.
Over the past two years, support for same-sex adoption has declined significantly in Sweden, the U.S., Canada, the Netherlands, and Turkey, but it has increased significantly in France, Italy, Colombia, and Peru.
SUPPORT FOR PROTECTION FROM EMPLOYMENT
The survey said 67 percentopined that transgender people face at least a fair amount of discrimination. However, only 19 percent say they face little or no discrimination. Perceptions of discrimination are highest in Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking countries, and lowest in Switzerland, Germany, and Japan.
Majorities in each of the 30 countries surveyed (76% on average) agree that transgender people should be protected from discrimination in employment, housing, and access to businesses such as restaurants and stores.
The survey also 60 percent of people agreeing that transgender teenagers should be allowed to receive gender-affirming care with parental consent. About 55 percent agree that transgender people should be allowed to use single-sex facilities (e.g., public restrooms that correspond to their gender). Another 53percent agree that government-issued documents such as passports should have options other than “male” and “female” for people who do not identify as either. About 47percent agree that health insurance systems should cover the costs of gender transition no differently than the costs of other medical procedures.
VIEWS ON SUPPORT TO TRANSGENDER ISSUES
Among the 30 countries surveyed, support for various pro-transgender measures is consistently high in Thailand, Italy, Spain, and throughout Latin America. It is lowest in South Korea, throughout Eastern Europe, in Great Britain, and in the United States where transgender rights and protections have become polarizing political issues.
Women and younger adults are more likely than men and older adults, respectively, to say the transgender community faces a lot of discrimination. They also show higher levels of support for all types of measures in favor of transgender people differences of about 6 to 9 points between women and men and between Gen Zers and Boomers. Partly driving this generational gap, Gen Xers and Boomers are more likely than younger adults to have no opinion about specific transgender issues or about the amount of discrimination transgender people face, possibly because they are less likely to know a transgender person.
Among the 30 countries surveyed, support for various pro-transgender measures is consistently high in Thailand, Italy, Spain, and throughout Latin America; it tends to be lowest in South Korea, throughout Eastern Europe, in Great Britain, and in the United States where transgender rights and protections have become polarizing political issues.
Women and younger adults are more likely than men and older adults, respectively, to say the transgender community faces a lot of discrimination. They also show higher levels of support for all types of measures in favor of transgender people differences of about 6 to 9 points between women and men and between Gen Zers and Boomers. Partly driving this generational gap, Gen Xers and Boomers are more likely than younger adults to have no opinion about specific transgender issues or about the amount of discrimination transgender people face, possibly because they are less likely to know a transgender person.
