15 Among LGBT adults who say they know for sure that they are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (92%), 17 is the median age at which they say they knew. Gay men are the least likely to report first having these feelings in their twenties or beyond: 3% say they were 20 or older, compared with 14% of lesbians and 15% of bisexuals.Īfter these initial feelings, it took some time for most LGBT adults to be sure of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Only 7% were in their twenties, and 4% were 30 or older. The vast majority of lesbians, gay men and bisexuals say they were in their teens or younger when they first started to feel they might not be straight. By comparison 23% of lesbians and 18% of bisexuals say they were younger than 10 when they first started to question their sexuality. For both lesbians and bisexuals, the median age is 13.Īmong gay men, about four-in-ten (38%) say they were younger than 10 when they first felt they were not heterosexual. Gay men report, on average, thinking around age 10 that they might not be straight. 14 The median age across all LGB adults is 12, although there are some differences across groups. Lesbian, gay and bisexual survey respondents were asked how old they were when they first felt they might be something other than straight or heterosexual. There is an age gap among bisexuals, however, with bisexuals under the age of 45 much more likely than those ages 45 or older to say most of the important people in their life know that they are bisexual (32% and 18%, respectively). Similar shares of young, middle-aged and older LGBT adults say most of the important people in their life are aware of their sexual orientation or gender identity. There are no significant differences across age groups. Furthermore, 65% of bisexual men say that only a few or none of the important people in their life know they are bisexual.Īmong all LGBT adults, those with a college degree are more likely than those who have not graduated from college to say all or most of the important people in their life know they are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (64% vs. Similarly, while one-third of bisexual women say most of the important people in their life know they are bisexual, only 12% of bisexual men say the same. Roughly nine-in-ten bisexual women (88%) say they have told a close friend about their sexual orientation only 55% of bisexual men say they have told a close friend. And they are much more likely to say that most of the people who are important to them know about this aspect of their life: 77% of gay men and 71% of lesbians say all or most people know, compared with 28% of bisexuals.Īmong bisexuals, there are large differences between men and women in the share who say the people closest to them know that they are bisexual. Lesbians and gay men are more likely than bisexuals to have told at least one close friend about their sexual orientation (96% of gay men and 94% of lesbians, compared with 79% of bisexuals). There are large differences here across LGB groups. And some 54% say all or most of the important people in their life know that they are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. The vast majority of LGBT respondents (86%) say they have told one or more close friends about their sexual orientation or gender identity. How Many of the Important People in Your Life Know? Survey respondents were invited to elaborate on their experiences, and many of their stories are captured in an interactive feature on the Pew Research Center website.Įxplore some 300 quotes from LGBT survey respondents about their coming out experiences. Ultimately, these journeys are personal and hard to quantify. Still, about half say only a few or none of their co-workers know about their sexual orientation or gender identity. A majority of employed LGBT adults say their workplaces are accepting of people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.
Some seek out neighborhoods that are predominantly LGBT, but most do not. This section also explores the interactions LGBT adults have outside of their circles of family and close friends-in their communities and workplaces. This section looks at the process of coming out-when and how it happens, how difficult it is, and what impact it has on relationships.
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For lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgender people, realizing their sexual orientation or gender identity and sharing that information with family and friends is often a gradual process that can unfold over a series of years.