Chart with that says straight bisexual gay acesexual
LGBTQ+ Identification in U.S. Now at 7.6%
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Diverse identification in the U.S. continues to grow, with 7.6% of U.S. adults now identifying as lesbian, gay, double attraction, transgender, queer or some other sexual orientation besides heterosexual. The current figure is up from 5.6% four years ago and 3.5% in 2012, Gallup’s first year of measuring sexual orientation and transgender identity.
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These results are based on aggregated numbers from 2023 Gallup telephone surveys, encompassing interviews with more than 12,000 Americans aged 18 and older. In each survey, Gallup asks respondents whether they identify as heterosexual, lesbian, gay, attracted to both genders, transgender or something else. Overall, 85.6% say they are straight or heterosexual, 7.6% identify with one or more LGBTQ+ groups, and 6.8% decline to respond.
Bisexual adults produce up the largest proportion of the LGBTQ+ population -- 4.4% of U.S. adults and 57.3% of LGBTQ+ adults say they are bisexual. Gay and lesbian are the next-most-common identities, each representing slightly over 1% of U.S. adults and roughly one in six LGBTQ+ adults. Slightly less than 1% of U.S. adults and about one in eight LGBT
It used to be one of distinctive features of ace communities, that we really liked drawing graphs. Oh so many graphs, more than I can include. The graphs were painful, and we liked the pain. It’s fallen out of fashion lately though, possibly for the best.
This article is one part historical retrospective, one part laughing at terrible graphs, and one part trying to “improve” the graphs with more math. There are a lot of graphs, so we better get started.
Triangles, Squares, and Hypercubes
The Storms’ model is the original asexual graph, predating ace communities by decades. A person’s orientation is represented by a point somewhere on the graph; the horizontal position represents hetero-eroticism, and the vertical position represents homo-eroticism.
AVEN Triangle (2001). Helpfully explained by AVENAceplz (2010).
One of the oldest living ace symbols is the AVEN triangle, originally intended as a graph. In case you haven’t figured it out, the AVEN triangle and Storms’ model are in fact the same model. I hold helpfully illustrated the association below.
I drew this poorly so that nobody could accidentally take it seriously.
LGBTQIA Resource Center Glossary
GLOSSARY
The terms and definitions below are always evolving, switching and often express different things to different people. They are provided below as a starting point for discussion and understanding. This Glossary has been collectively built and created by the staff members of the LGBTQIA Resource Center since the early 2000s.
These are not universal definitions. This glossary is provided to aid give others a more thorough but not entirely comprehensive understanding of the significance of these terms. You may even consider asking someone what they mean when they use a phrase, especially when they use it to describe their persona. Ultimately it is most important that each individual characterize themselves for themselves and therefore also define a phrase for themselves.
“If I didn't define myself for myself, I would be crunched into other people's fantasies for me and eaten alive.” -Audre Lorde
This glossary contains terms, such as ableism and disability, that may not be considered directly related to identities of sexuality or gender. These terms are essential to acknowledge as part of our mission to test all forms of oppress
Straight to gay scale
About
NOTE: This page is a daughter page of: Graphic Scales
The 0 to 10 "straight to gay" scale below is a amusing way to think about sexual orientation. Sexual choice is not a binary (gay or straight) nor a three-way (gay/straight/bisexual) "decision". It is a complex spectrum. The chart below is a huge simplification of a straight to gay spectrum and it is deliberately cheesy. If you want a more official scale lookup the "Kinsey scale". I wanted to keep this one fun to stimulate conversation.
My Graphical Representation of the "Straight to Male lover Scale" (0-10)
(full res widescreen image)
Sexuality is complex!
Sexual preference infinitely complex and multi-dimensional. LGBTQ - lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, gender non-conforming, questioning, genderqueer, demisexual (emotional connection), pansexual (personality), sapiosexual (intelligence), asexual (no interest in sex), heteroflexible ("threesome" flexible), bi-curious,
Glossary of Terms
Many Americans refrain from talking about sexual orientation and gender identity or statement because it feels taboo, or because they’re anxious of saying the untrue thing.
This glossary was written to help give people the words and meanings to help make conversations easier and more relaxed. LGBTQ+ people use a variety of terms to identify themselves, not all of which are included in this glossary. Always listen for and respect a person’s self identified terminology.
Ally | A designation used to describe someone who is actively supportive of LGBTQ+ people. It encompasses straight and cisgender allies, as well as those within the Queer community who support each other (e.g., a female homosexual who is an ally to the bisexual community).
Asexual | Often called “ace” for short, asexual refers to a complete or partial lack of sexual attraction or lack of interest in sexual outing with others. Asexuality exists on a spectrum, and asexual people may exposure no, little or conditional sexual attraction.
Biphobia | The fear and hatred of, or discomfort with, people who love and are sexually attracted to more than one gender.
Bisexual | A person emotiona