Main | Friday, May 02, 2008

We, The Fewer?

A new survey from Hunter College suggests that the number of gay people in America is lower than previously thought.
A new poll published in the United States on Wednesday claims that there are considerably less gay, lesbian and bisexual Americans than previously estimated. A Hunter College poll of 768 people who took part online found that just 2.9% identified as LGB. The gay population is normally estimated at around 5%.

The survey threw up some interesting results. Just 3.5% of the LGB population is over 65, while the average age of LGBs over 18 is lower than in the general population. "Exit polls are based on voters, the people who show up at the polls. Gays and lesbians vote much more consistently than the general population," Professor Patrick Egan of New York University, one of the poll's authors, explained to The Advocate.

"It's this sort of illusive concept that good political theorists want everyone to do, which is to be engaged with their community and by every measure, LGBs are more engaged with their communities than the general population." Women made up two thirds of those who said they were bisexual, whereas men made up two thirds of the gay/lesbian respondents.
I suppose an online poll might incline folks to be more honest, always an issue when trying to determine the size of our community. But you have to wonder about the methodology by which people were asked to complete the survey.

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