GLBT Demographics

Performing research on topics related to gays and lesbians is challenging because very few information sources are entirely objective about the subject matter. The question "How many lesbians and gay men are there?" exemplifies the challenges of performing accurate research.
While this question-- one of the most frequently asked--might have many applications, it is often posed by marketers. The Gay and Lesbian Market (Leverett, MA : Rector Press, 1995) thoroughly discusses the many issues pertaining to gay demographics. In addition, The Gay & Lesbian Atlas (Gary J. Gates and Jason Ost. Washington, D.C. : Urban Institute Press, c2004) includes many references for further research.

Additionally, several articles have dealt with the issue:

• Black, Dan, et al. "Demographics of the Gay and Lesbian Population in the United States: Evidence from Available Systematic Data Sources." Demography. Vol. 31 No. 2 (May 2000). P 139-154;
  "Why Do Gay Men Live in San Francisco?" June 1, 1998
• Boslaugh, Sarah, PhD. "Locating demographic information on GLBT people: A guide to the available reference source." GLBT ALMS 2006: International GLBT Archives, Libraries, Museums and Special Collections Conference, Minneapolis, MN. May 20, 2006
• Gallagher, John. "10% Reality or Myth?" Advocate. November 15, 1994, P. 23+
• Gardyn, Rebecca. "A Market Kept in the Closet." American Demographics. Vol. 23, Issue 11. November 2001. P. 36-43.
• Kaban, Hazel and Mulryan, David. "Out of the Closet." American Demographics. May 1995. P. 40+
• Wilke, Michael. "Big Advertisers Join Move to Embrace Gay Market." Advertising Age. August 14, 1997. P. 1+

As these articles discuss, estimates of the number of gay and lesbian populations vary widely, rendering the question largely unanswerable without further refinement. There are a variety of reasons for this. One is the definition of what constitutes a "homosexual." Does it require physical expression of same-sex desire, or is fantasizing about it sufficient. Many gay men and lesbians resist being categorized based solely on this highly personal and often private information. Another reason that the actual number of gay men and lesbians living in the United States has been significantly and consistently underreported is due to social taboo, religious censure, legal statues, real or perceived risk of jeopardizing of jobs, housing, reputations and family situations

A brief historical overview of the surveys that have been conducted may provide some background. The methodology of most of these has been found to be problematic in that often the results from the sample could not be generalized to the population at large. Some important questions to bear in mind when evaluating these studies include:

• What is the original motivation for the survey?
• Is it political, sociological or economic?
• Who is asking the questions and why?
• What is being surveyed?
• The distinction between behavior and identity can be wide and how does the terminology of the questionnaire reflect this?
• Where was the survey conducted? Large, urban areas are likely to provide results which differ widely from small, rural locations.

The first scientific attempt to measure the incidence of homosexuality was a study conducted by Dr. Magnus Hirschfeld, the pioneering German sexologist, published in 1903/4 as The Hirschfeld Report. Of the males surveyed, Hirschfeld concluded that 2.3% were exclusively gay, and 3.4% bisexual.

Alfred C. Kinsey rated sexual orientation on a continuous spectrum of 0 (exclusively heterosexual) to 6 (exclusively homosexual). Based on the in-depth interviews of the predominately white male subjects from the Midwest and Northeast, Kinsey concluded in Sexual Behavior in the Human Male (Alfred C. Kinsey, Wardell B. Pomeroy [and] Clyde E. Martin. Philadelphia, W.B. Saunders Co., 1948) that 10% rated 5-6 and 8% rated 6. Sexual Behavior in the Human Female (the staff of the Institute for Sex Research, Indiana University : Alfred C. Kinsey [and others]. Philadelphia, Saunders, 1953) reported that 2-6% of the 5,940 women reported being more or less exclusively homosexual.

The Ganon and Simon study (Sexual Conduct; the Social Sources of Human Sexuality / John H. Gagnon and William Simon. Chicago, Aldine Pub. Co. [1973]) conducted in 1973 and The Hunt Study in 1974 were roughly in keeping with Kinsey's findings and also subject to similar criticisms.

The National Opinion Research Council published a study in 1988-1991 that was based on data collection in 1970 and 1980 and reported that 6% had ever had an adult homosexual experience.

A study released in 1993 by the Battelle Human Affairs Research Centers in Seattle suggested that only 1% of American men are exclusively homosexual. Serious questions about the methodology have cast doubt upon the uncharacteristically low figures.

The 1993 Janus Report (The Janus Report on Sexual Behavior / Samuel S. Janus and Cynthia L. Janus. Wiley, c1993), the first broad-scale scientific national survey on sexual behavior since Kinsey, concluded that 9% of males and 5% of females had had homosexual experiences more than just "occasionally."

The 1993 Yankelovich Monitor Survey, considered the first nationally representative survey to reflect what percentage of the population identified itself as homosexual, indicated that 5.7% described themselves as "gay/homosexual/lesbian."

The Parade Magazine Survey showed that 3% of men and 1% of women identified as homosexual.

The 1994 Sex in America Study (Sex in America: A Definitive Survey / Robert T. Mitchell... et al.. Boston : Little, Brown, c1994) Self-identified gay and bisexual men accounted for 2.8% of the surveyed respondents, while 1.4% of the women identified as lesbian or bisexual.

Statistics have also been collected by Overlooked Opinions, and the "Gay & Lesbian Market Study" by Simmons Market Research Bureau and Mulryan/Nash, New York.

Because of the complex issues referred to above, this is likely to be an elusive area of research for many years.

February 2004.
Revised July 2006.