Letter from GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis
GLAAD’s 2024 Accelerating Acceptance Study arrives at a monumental inflection point for the LGBTQ community and for our entire country. While acceptance for LGBTQ people remains high, the data this year also sounds substantial alarms about threats to this progress and to freedoms valued by every American.
GLAAD’s Accelerating Acceptance Study data shows solid support for LGBTQ people and our right to live free from discrimination and live free of fear. 95% of non-LGBTQ Americans believe schools should be safe and accepting for all youth. 93% say people should be accepted for who they are. Yet we are also seeing a slight dip in support for LGBTQ equal rights, down from a record high of 84% a year ago.
This should not come as a surprise. Extremist politicians, unchecked and enabled in the media–including social media- have relentlessly targeted LGBTQ people with harmful legislative proposals and disinformation campaigns. The same lawmakers and extremist judges targeting abortion access, contraception, immigration, voting rights, and free speech, are using the same strategies of fear and disinformation to undermine LGBTQ people and our equality.
Over 500 anti-LGBTQ bills have been introduced in states around the country since January 01, 2024. While the vast majority never make it to law, public debate over a person’s humanity and rights have real-world consequences The most recent FBI Hate Crime data reported a 19% rise in hate crimes against LGBTQ people, and a 35% rise in attacks specifically against transgender people. Fortunately, the data points to proven ways to keep expanding and accelerating acceptance. When Americans see us, living authentically in our communities and included accurately in news and entertainment stories, they recognize how our rights to be ourselves and belong are the same as any American’s, and worth fighting alongside us to achieve. Our study shows that more non-LGBTQ people have been inspired to speak up for LGBTQ equality as a result of news coverage and political debates around our community, and they’ve shown up in election after election to reject extremist candidates and their anti-trans campaigns.
GLAAD urges every voter to review this data and ask yourself: What kind of future do you want for LGBTQ people? Join us to ensure it’s one that is safe, accepting, and equal.
The consequences of apathy and silence are too great. GLAAD’s Accelerating Acceptance Study should continue to inspire and empower all of us to rise up and speak out for everyone’s freedom to be themselves. Our safety, our collective success, and the future of our democracy depend on it.
In solidarity,
President & CEO, GLAAD