LGBTQ acceptance in the US has dropped, according to new report

26th January 2018

For the first time in four years, Americans are less accepting of LGBTQ people.

A new report by GLAAD has revealed that 49% of non-LGBTQ adults are “very” or “somewhat” comfortable with LGBTQ people in certain situations, down from 53% the previous year.

This is the first time acceptable for LGBTQ people has decreased, according to Accelerating Acceptance.

The survey – conducted by The Harris Poll – was taken online from 16-20 November, 2017, with 2,160 adults taking part. 1,897 were non-LGBTQ.

“In the past year, there has been a swift and alarming erosion of acceptance which can only be fought by being visible and vocal,” said Kate Ellis, GLAAD President and CEO.

“This report puts numbers to the bias that too many LGBTQ Americans have recently experienced. GLAAD is fighting the rollback by enlisting philanthropic leaders like the Ariadne Getty Foundation and global changemakers attending the World Economic Forum to use their platforms and move our community forward.”

According to the survey, 30% of those who took part said they would feel uncomfortable if a family member came out as LGBTQ (previously 27%), 31% said they’d be uncomfortable with an LGBTQ doctor (previously 28%), and 31% wouldn’t be happy with their child being taught by an LGBTQ person (previously 28%).

John Gerzema – CEO of the Harris Poll – said: “An unseen casualty of a tumultuous year has been the LGBTQ community. In a single year, we’ve seen significant declines from what had been an increasingly accepting America to one now less supportive. And this lost ground of acceptance cuts across many in American society.”

55% of LGBTQ adults also reported experiencing discrimination because of their sexual orientation or gender identity, an 11% increase from the previous year.

Read the full report on GLAAD’s website.