The jokes have always been there—and according to new data, they might just be rooted in truth: the Navy is indeed brimming with gay and bisexual men.
A queer statistician recently shared a chart on X using figures from a 2015 U.S. Department of Defence survey that estimated the proportion of gay and bi men across all five branches of the military.
The numbers show a notable LGBTQ+ presence in each branch, with the Marines starting at 4.5%. The Navy, however, leads by a wide margin, with an estimated 10.4% of its personnel identifying as gay or bisexual.
For context, a 2025 Gallup poll indicates that around 6% of U.S. men identify as LGBTQ+. The average across all branches of the military is slightly higher, at 6.18%.
The enduring imagery of same-sex intimacy in the military is nothing new to queer cultural lore. Though women now hold combat roles, the military remains 82.3% male—creating a traditionally homosocial environment that can foster strong same-sex bonds.
Here’s a modeled estimate of the prevalence of gay/bisexual men in the US Armed Forces as of 2024.
The Navy really is the gayest branch, by some margin. pic.twitter.com/kjg4Qg5491
— Hunter📈🌈📊 (@StatisticUrban) September 10, 2025
And then there’s the Navy. Between long voyages, tight quarters, and the distinct uniform aesthetic (hello, stripes and flared trousers), it’s little wonder the branch is seen as a “queer powder keg.”
“In the navy, come on and join your fellow man!”
It’s not just about the numbers. Historically, cities like San Francisco and San Diego attracted gay sailors during and after their service, contributing to their reputations as LGBTQ+ havens. San Francisco’s queer identity, for example, was shaped in part by sailors settling there after World War II.
The 1994 documentary and book Coming Out Under Fire highlights numerous accounts of gay and bi service members during the WWII era, many of whom found solidarity in coastal cities like San Francisco and New York.
In the U.K., sailors even created their own coded language, Polari, to communicate safely within an often-hostile environment.
Despite institutionalised homophobia—especially during the Lavender Scare, which led to mass expulsions of LGBTQ+ service members—an underground queer culture endured for decades. This resilience carried through until the 2011 repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” which allowed LGBTQ+ personnel to serve openly for the first time.
In recent years, the military—especially the Navy—has made visible strides towards LGBTQ+ inclusion. A drag-performing Navy veteran, Harpy Daniels, went viral for their performances. Last year, a Navy sailor took TikTok by storm, turning the ship’s deck into a catwalk in a video that racked up millions of views.
Still, not everyone has embraced the change. Fox News contributor Pete Hegseth has pushed back against the Navy’s increasingly inclusive culture. During Pride Month, he controversially removed Harvey Milk’s name from a Navy vessel and opposed the promotion of the rear admiral who supported Daniels’ drag show. Notably, Hegseth was also a previous supporter of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”
But the stats speak louder than any culture war backlash: the U.S. military has a strong, visible, and enduring LGBTQ+ presence—one that’s clearly here to stay.
