A recent Gallup poll reveals that LGBTQ+ Americans are disclosing their sexual orientation at younger ages, reflecting broader societal acceptance.
The survey found that most LGBTQ+ individuals had come out by 30, with nearly 60% having done so by 22. A smaller group, approximately 10%, reported coming out between their 30s and 50s.
The poll highlights a significant generational shift: Those aged 18 to 29 reported a median coming-out age of 17, compared to a median age of 20 for those aged 30 to 49. Across all age groups, the median age of coming out was 19. According to Gallup’s report, this earlier coming-out age among younger LGBT Americans is attributed to increased societal acceptance over the past decade.
“Today’s young LGBTQ+ Americans report having come out nearly a decade earlier than LGBTQ+ seniors, reflecting societal shifts in greater acceptance that LGBTQ+ adults report having seen over the past decade,” the report states.
The survey also noted differences in the coming-out age between genders. Both men and women were most likely to come out between the ages of 19 and 22, but LGBTQ+ women were more than twice as likely as men to come out by the age of 14.
Despite these positive trends, the issue of LGBTQ+ rights remains contentious. The findings coincide with the recent signing of a controversial California law that prohibits school districts from requiring teachers to inform parents of changes in their children’s gender identity. California Governor Gavin Newsom and X owner Elon Musk publicly clashed over this measure. Musk, who has a transgender child, expressed strong opposition, saying, “I lost my son, essentially… My son Xavier is dead, killed by the woke mind virus.”
The Gallup poll also captured LGBTQ+ adults’ perceptions of societal treatment. Most respondents felt that acceptance of LGBTQ+ individuals has improved, with 27% saying it has “gotten a lot better” and 43% noting it has “gotten a little better.”
