People Think 1 in 4 Americans are Gay

[w8liftinglady]

http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2011/05/27/People_Think_1_in_4_Americans_are_Gay/

A new Gallup poll indicates that the average American believes that a quarter of the population is gay or lesbian. Additionally, 35% of those polled think the figure is even higher.

Participants were asked, "Just your best guess, what percent of Americans today would you say are gay or lesbian?" Only 4% of respondents say less than 5% of Americans are gay. Gallup asked the same question in 2002, with average estimates that 21% of men were gay and 22% of women.

The poll is a heavy contrast from the Williams Institute study from earlier this year counting only 3.5% of the population as gay, lesbian, or bisexual, and another 1% as transgender.

[no_hypocrisy]

1. If that figure were accurate, there might be more political clout and policy

for GLBT rights.

[xchrom]

2. sigh -- americans. nt

[w8liftinglady]

3. what I don't understand....

If this many Americans think one in four of their neighbors are gay, why do they want to punish us so much?

[xchrom]

4. fear of modernity. fear of change.

and we're a scapegoat that can be whipped over & over & over -- we become a thing to be afraid of if there are more of us.

[w8liftinglady]

5. all I know... the more I come out, the more I find in the most unexpected places

My tire guy's wife, half my co-workers, people in the store, patient's family member's kids.
the number may be more accurate than we realize.

[xchrom]

7. it's possible. but a pretty good study was recently done that puts our percentage

at around -- what was it? -- 2% of the population.

it's that we come out that has changed attitudes -- our friends & families are finally getting to know us. -- now that's new.

[DURHAM D]

6. COOL...

[RKP5637]

8. If gays were not bashed so much I think the reported number by some studies would

be higher. There is soooooooooo much stigma attached to being gay that I think many do not reveal their true feelings to themselves, much less act on their feelings or report it in someones poll. Anyway, that's what I think.