The Dutch population has shown increased acceptance towards homosexuality, although acceptance levels for other groups within the LGBTIQA+ community remain lower, according to a new study.
This insight was highlighted in a recent study by Mariëlle Paul, the Dutch State Secretary for Equal Opportunities, with the Tweede Kamer, the Lower House of Parliament. The survey revealed that 86 percent of respondents this year expressed positive views towards gay men and lesbian women, up from 76 percent in 2020.
However, the study also noted that acceptance rates for other groups within the LGBTIQA+ spectrum are less favourable. For instance, 66 percent of respondents reported positive attitudes towards bisexual individuals, with a quarter viewing bisexuality as a “fad”. Meanwhile, support for non-binary people was even lower, with only 53 percent holding positive views. Additionally, the proportion of people who would be uncomfortable with their child being taught by a transgender teacher rose from 9 to 14 percent.
The research highlighted that individuals within the LGBTIQA+ community face more online hate and discrimination than cis-heterosexual people—those whose gender identity aligns with their birth gender and who are attracted to the opposite gender. Members of the LGBTIQA+ community are also more cautious about their behaviour in public, especially regarding displays of affection.
The survey, commissioned by the Dutch Cabinet, was conducted by Panteia, Movisie, and Ipsos I&O and involved nearly 2,500 participants. Unlike previous studies that focused primarily on LGBT individuals, this research included a broader range of groups, such as non-binary, queer, intersex, and asexual individuals, as well as LGBTIQA+ people of colour and those with disabilities.
Participants in the study were all adults aged 18 and over. A separate study focusing on acceptance levels among young people is scheduled for later.
