A Gallup survey shows that Ameeicans grossly overestimate the size of the gay population by as much as 500% - Americans, on average, estimate that nearly every fourth (23,5%) American is gay when the actual size, according to Gallup's survey, is around 4,5%. Some other interesting numbers and points from the source: I personally find this very interesting and at the same time, actually, even a bit mind-boggling; how can it be that so many Americans think that 1/4 people are homosexual? The size of the overestimation strikes me as insane and the average estimation is eyebrow-raisingly deluded to me. At the same time, the size of the "actual gay population" is surprisingly small to me as I would assume it was around 10-15%. To discuss: - What is your initial reaction to this? Did you yourself also overestimate the size of the "gay community"? - Why do you think it is that Americans think the size of the gay population is five times larger than it is? Is it, as the article speculates, due to mentions and time in media? - Knowing that the gay population is as small as <5%, is it really a feasible political strategy to focus on this group as much as politicians of today do? - Any other thoughts?
Well they want to turn the American culture upside down over a tiny population and Trans people is far smaller a fraction of 1% however they are political and vocal and tend to be making inroads far over their numbers dictate. Even if one adds Bisexuals to this it can't be that large. But can't believe it look at the media they have gay, gay and gay band gay and trans and gay all over the place.
Older gallup polling showed that 4 percent of Americans are LGBT but it may be actually less than 1%. People who are born with rare genetic disorders who make them biologically gay are estimated to be 1 in 10,000 newborn babies, who can be medically certified to be gay. Many others who feel like being homosexual may be have other genetic conditions. Mutations in three proteins (TSHR, SLITRK5 and SLITRK6) are associated with various diseases and are linked to phenotypes found at a higher rate in homosexual men (Basavanhally et al. 2018.) Nature Scientific Reports, DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-15736-4
I was thinking the gay population was around 1%. So their estimate is greater than mine. Though the percentages may be small it's a big issue for some reason. So yes politicians have to devote at least some time to it.
There is no such thing as "medically certified to be gay." There has been no genetic disorder linked to homosexuality.
“Sex is not subjective, it is an objective biological reality,” Trump said in a statement. The scientific community is working toward medically defining homosexuality. In the near future, homosexuality will become an objective biological reality engraved on DNA. The continued genetic study of sexual orientation should help open a gateway to other studies focusing on genetic and environmental mechanisms of sexual orientation and development.
The problem with the methodology of self identification is that there is no basis in reality. I know several people that would identify as gay just to throw off a study, a few more that would never identify as gay or bisexual because they either feel like it is no ones business or cannot even admit it to themselves much less a poll. According to Gallup: The above indicates that either people are being converted to being gay (unlikely) or that people are more likely to be honest with less stigma being involved. If it’s the latter then we won’t know an actual percentage until stigma is completely erased but we can assume the number is close to if not in the low double digits. If it’s the first then heterosexuals need to step up their recruitment game, they do so well with religion so I don’t think this is the issue however. To your question “Knowing that the gay population is as small as <5%, is it really a feasible political strategy to focus on this group as much as politicians of today do” what percent of the population should a group be before they have equal representation? Even assuming the 4.5% is accurate that’s almost 15 million Americans — the population of New York is 19 million, hardly a small demographic.
