When was homosexuality decriminalized? LGBT Statistics & More

Dec 16, 2020

The LGBT community is a diverse community made up of many people from many walks of life. Even though there are cities with a higher concentration of people of the LGBT community, the LGBT community is spread around and is made up of many people from different races, ethnicities, all ages, and more.

Article Contents

LGBT Statistics / What is the LGBT Community?
Gay Statistics / When was Homosexuality Decriminalized in the US?
LGBT Discrimination Facts / Why do People Discriminate?
Myths and Misconceptions About the Gay Community / What is the Gay Lifestyle?

Many people have many different questions about the LGBT community. What is the gay lifestyle? What does LGBT stand for? And most of all, why is there so much discrimination against the LGBT community?

Below you'll be able to find out more about LGBT statistics, myths and misconceptions about LGBT couples, where homophobia stems from, and more.

LGBT Statistics (Top Picks)

The term "LGBTQ" is an acronym for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer, or questioning, terms that are used to describe someone's sexual orientation or gender identity.
Washington D.C. is the state/district with the highest concentration of gay couples is with 1.29%. North and South Dakota has the lowest concentration of gay couples with .22% each.
Cities with the highest LGBT concentration are San Francisco with 15.4%, Seattle with 12.9%, and Atlanta with 12.8%
An overwhelming 92% of American LGBT adults say society has become more accepting of them
George Cecil Ives was one of the earliest gay rights campaigners who had been working for the end of the oppression of homosexuals. He called it “the cause.” Ives met Oscar Wilde at the Authors Club in London in 1892.
Homophobia and biphobia stem from irrational fears of the unknown. It's a consequence of the lack of or incorrect information on people.
Myth: Gay, Lesbian, or Bisexual people should try to be cured. Fact: Since being Gay, Lesbian, or Bisexual is not an illness, there is no cure.
The fact is, there is no definable gay lifestyle. Just as there is also no standard for a heterosexual lifestyle. Some people consider a normal heterosexual lifestyle as being married with two kids. Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual people are different from one another the same way heterosexual people differ from one another.

LGBT Statistics

What is the LGBT Community?

Photo Credit: Steve Johnson on Unsplash

The term LGBTQ is an acronym for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer, or questioning. Terms that are used to describe someone's sexual orientation or gender identity.

The LGBT community is, like the acronym, is anyone that is within the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender community. People within the LGBT community come from many different walks of life and live in many parts of the country. In fact, New York City, Los Angeles, and Atlanta were the three cities with the most gay couples in the US. Conversely, Washington DC is the state/region with the highest concentration of gay couples at 1.29%, while North and South Dakota had the lowest concentration at .22% each. While the LGBT community is diverse, 87% of LGBT adults and 75% of non-LGBT adults said that they would support a brand that offers equal benefits to LGBT employees. Considering the high number of non-LGBT adults supporting brands and companies that support the LGBT community, today an overwhelming 92% of American LGBT adults say society has become more accepting of them.

Key Statistics:

The term LGBTQ is an acronym for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer, or questioning. Terms that are used to describe someone's sexual orientation or gender identity.
87% of LGBT adults and 75% of non-LGBT adults said they would consider a brand that offers equal benefits for LGBT employees.
47% of adults say advertisements targeted at LGBT audiences have a positive effect on purchasing decisions.
Close to 1 in 4 adults changed to a new product or service because a new company supported the LGBT community
71% of Lesbian and Gay people remain loyal to brands that are sympathetic to LGBT issues, even if the brand is costlier or inconvenient.
The LGBT market is worth an estimated US $600 Billion in Japan
California has the most gay couples with approximately 92,138. North Dakota has the least amount of gay couples with approximately 703.
Washington D.C is the state/district with the highest concentration of gay couples is with 1.29%. North and South Dakota has the lowest concentration of gay couples with .22% each.
Three US cities with the most gay couples are New York City with 47,000, Los Angeles with 12,000, and Chicago with 10,000.
Cities with the highest LGBT concentration are San Francisco with 15.4%, Seattle with 12.9%, and Atlanta with 12.8%
An overwhelming 92% of American LGBT adults say society has become more accepting of them

Sources:
https://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2013/06/13/a-survey-of-lgbt-americans/
https://gaycenter.org/about/lgbtq/
https://www.diversitybestpractices.com/fast-facts-lgbt
https://www.factretriever.com/lgbt-facts

Gay Statistics

When was Homosexuality Decrimilized in the US?

Photo Credit: Sandy Millar on Unsplash

George Cecil Ives was one of the earliest gay rights campaigners who had been working for the end of the oppression of homosexuals. He called it “the cause”. Ives met Oscar Wilde at the Authors Club in London in 1892.

When one thinks about the gay rights movement, the first thing most people think about is Marsha P. Johnson and the Stonewall riots. While the riots were a pivotal moment in LGBT rights, the gay rights movement can be traced back to an English poet named George Cecil Ives. George Cecil one of the earliest campaigners for gay rights. He worked with progressive psychologists and help found the British Society for the study of Sex and Psychology, and even met Oscar Wilde in 1892. Later in the US, In 1962 Illinois decriminalized consensual sexual relations between people of the game gender. Over the next several decades, more and more states began to follow suit. Then, in 1969, the Stonewall riots began a pivotal role in the gay rights movement. The fight for gay rights kept going and paid off in 2013 when the Supreme Court struck down parts of DOMA (the defense of marriage act). Finally, in 2015, the Supreme court legalized same-sex marriage by striking down all state bans on same-sex marriage.

Key Statistics:

George Cecil Ives was one of the earliest gay rights campaigners who had been working for the end of the oppression of homosexuals. He called it “the cause”. Ives met Oscar Wilde at the Authors Club in London in 1892.
In 1962, Illinois decriminalized consensual sexual relations between same-sex couples. Connecticut was next. Over the next several decades, other states followed suit.
In June 1969, police raided the Stonewall Inn, a bar located in New York City’s Greenwich Village that marked the turning point in the fight for LGBT rights.
In 2013, the Supreme Court struck down parts of the Defense of Marriage Act (Doma)
On June 26th, 2015 The Supreme court legalized same-sex marriage by striking down all state bans on same-sex marriages.

Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_history_in_the_United_States
https://www.dosomething.org/us/facts/11-facts-about-gay-rights
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_social_movements
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Same-sex_marriage_in_the_United_States
https://www.history.com/news/stonewall-riots-timeline
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Cecil_Ives

LGBT Discrimination Facts

Why do People Discriminate?

LGBT Painted Face

Photo Credit: Christian Sterk

Homophobia and biphobia stem from irrational fears of the unknown. It's a consequence of the lack of or incorrect information on people.

People always ask, “Why do people discriminate?” or better yet, “Why are people against gays?” To answer that, we have to look at what discrimination is as a whole. Discrimination is the unfair or prejudicial treatment of people based on characteristics such as race, gender, age, or sexual orientation. Discrimination stems from fear of the unknown. The human brain subconsciously puts things into categories like the difference between boys and girls. However, values and roles are learned from our parents and observing our peers. Homophobia stems from the irrational fear of the unknown. This is why studies have shown that people with homophobic attitudes do not know or have never met anyone who is Gay, Lesbian, or bisexual. China has a growing acceptance of homosexuality and scholars believe its due to the “One-child” policy. Also, China has no dominant religion to fuel any debates against homosexuality, which is why researchers believe homophobia in China is a European import.

Key Statistics:

1 in 4 LGBT people reported experiencing discrimination
Discrimination is the unfair or prejudicial treatment of people and groups based on characteristics such as race, gender, age, or sexual orientation.
The Human brain puts things into categories to make sense of the world. Children quickly learn the difference between boys and girls. However, the values placed on different categories are learned from our parents, peers, and observations made about how the world works. Often, discrimination stems from fear and misunderstanding.
Homophobia and biphobia stem from irrational fears of the unknown. It's a consequence of the lack of or incorrect information on people.
Studies show that people who have homophobic or biphobic attitudes do not know or have never met a person who is Gay, Lesbian, or Bisexual.
Scholars believe that the growing acceptance of homosexuality in China is due to China’s “One-Child” policy. Also, unlike the US and Europe, which is predominantly Christian, and Southeast Asia, which is predominantly Muslim, China has no dominant religion to fuel debates against homosexuality. Researchers believe homophobia in China is a European import.

Sources:
https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/lgbtq-rights/news/2017/05/02/429529/widespread-discrimination-continues-shape-lgbt-peoples-lives-subtle-significant-ways/
https://www.apa.org/topics/discrimination
https://www.wright.edu/student-affairs/health-and-wellness/counseling-and-wellness/workshops-and-self-help/diversity-programs/article/untruths-and-facts-about-people-who-are-gay-lesbian-or-bisexual
https://www.factretriever.com/lgbt-facts

Myths and Misconceptions about the Gay Community

What is the Gay Lifestyle?

Photo Credit: Ian Schneider

Gay, Lesbian, or Bisexual people should try to be cured. Fact: Since being Gay, Lesbian, or Bisexual is not an illness, there is no cure.

Many people have heard many different myths and misconceptions about gay and lesbian relationships. Such as what exactly is the gay lifestyle? Well, there is no definable gay lifestyle. Just as there is no definable heterosexual lifestyle. Some people believe that a heterosexual lifestyle is being married and having two kids. However, that still may not apply to all heterosexual couples. Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual couple are different from one another just like heterosexual couples differ from one another. There is also a misconception that Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual couples flaunt their sexuality and their partners in public. However, the reality is that, due to homophobic reactions, most Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual people actually hide their sexuality in public and not flaunt it.

Key Statistics:

Myth: Gay, Lesbian, or Bisexual people should try to be cured. Fact: Since being Gay, Lesbian, or Bisexual is not an illness, there is no cure.

The fact is, there is no definable gay lifestyle. Just as there is also no standard for a heterosexual lifestyle. Some people consider a normal heterosexual lifestyle as being married with two kids. Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual people are different from one another the same way heterosexual people differ from one another.

Myth: Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual people can be identified by certain mannerisms, outfits, or characteristics.

The fact is that Gay, Lesbian, and bisexual people come in many different shapes, sizes, and colors just as heterosexual people do.

Myth: Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual people “flaunt” their sexuality by talking about their partner, hold hands, and kiss in public.

The fact is that heterosexual people do those activities all the time. However, due to homophobic reactions, most Gay and Lesbian people are actually forced to hide their sexuality in public, not flaunt it.

Myth: Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual people work and live in certain types of situations.

The fact is that Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual people belong to all racial groups, ethnic groups, are members of all types of religious communities, exhibit a range of physical and mental capabilities, and are of all ages.

Sources:
https://www.dosomething.org/us/facts/11-facts-lgbt-life-america
https://case.edu/lgbt/safe-zone/sexual-orientation-myths-facts
https://www.csuohio.edu/sites/default/files/bisexuality.pdf

Conclusion

LGBT people come from many different walks of life. Since the fight for equality began, more and more people have slowly accepted the LGBT community. An estimated 92% of LGBT adults feel that society has been more accepting of them. However, even though society has been more accepting of them, homophobia is still an issue that needs to be addressed and worked on. Homophobia stems from the fear of the unknown and most people that are homophobic don’t know anyone that is Gay, Lesbian, or Bisexual. Having positive representation, sharing information, and having exposure will shed light on misconceptions and lead to a more positive and accepting society.