Study: 3.4 percent in U.S. identify as LGBT

Gallup released the results of the most extensive poll of LGBT identification last week, upending the stereotype that those most likely to identify as LGBT are wealthy, white and male. (Blade file photo by Michael Key)

PRINCETON, N.J. — After conducting the most extensive ever search for individuals who identify as LGBT, Gallup released the results of a study this week that shows that 3.4 percent of Americans identify as either gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender.

Results were based on telephone interviews conducted as part of a nationwide survey of 121,290 adults, aged 18 and older.

“This report not only confirms the validity of prior estimates of the size of the LGBT population, but also provides new insight into the diversity within the LGBT community,” study author Gary J. Gates said.

According to Gallup, the study finds that those most likely to self-identify as LGBT were youth ages 18-29 (6.4 percent), Americans with incomes under $24,000 annually (5.2 percent), those making $25-60,000 (3.6 percent), African Americans (4.6 percent), Asian Americans (4.3 percent), Hispanic Americans (4.0 percent), or those with less education (4.0 percent some college but no degree, and 3.5 percent of those with a high school diploma or less). Women were more likely than men to identify as LGBT at 3.6 percent and 3.2 percent respectively.

The study also found that women in the LGBT community are just as likely as non-LGBT women to be raising children, with a third raising a child under 18 at home in both groups.

The study found white Americans to identify as LGBT at only 3.2 percent, those with college degrees identify at 2.8 percent and 3.2 percent of those with graduate degrees identify as LGBT. Only 2.8 percent of those making above $60,000 told Gallup they are LGBT. Americans aged 30-49 identify as LGBT at 3.2 percent, ages 50-64 at 2.6 percent and only 1.9 percent of Americans over 65 identify as LGBT.