AMERICANS ARE WITH LGBTQ PEOPLE, BUT DISINFORMATION COMES WITH A COST: GLAAD’s ACCELERATING ACCEPTANCE REPORT

SUPERMAJORITY SUPPORT REMAINS WITH A SLIGHT DECLINE FROM PREVIOUS YEAR AND INCREASED REPORTS OF DISCRIMINATION

• 95% of non-LGBTQ Americans believe schools should be safe and accepting for all youth
• 93% say children should be taught to appreciate and accept people as they are
• 80% support LGBTQ equal rights, down from a record high of 84% one year ago
• 70% of GenZ LGBTQ adults report discrimination based on their sexual orientation

GLAAD: “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 at supermajority levels, the data this year also sounds substantial alarms about threats to this progress and to freedoms valued by every American. Our study shows that more non-LGBTQ people have been inspired to speak up for LGBTQ equality as a result of accurate news coverage, and voters have shown up in election after election to reject extremist candidates and their anti-trans campaigns. 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.”

(New York, NY – August 15, 2024) – GLAAD, the world’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) media advocacy organization, today announced the findings of its annual Accelerating Acceptance Study, showing sustained supermajority support for LGBTQ Americans, with a slight decline in overall support from the previous year and higher reports of discrimination, particularly among GenZ LGBTQ Americans, the most out generation in history.

The study also found that accurate media coverage leads to higher acceptance and comfortability among non-LGBTQ people and increased motivation for non-LGBTQ people to speak up for all LGBTQ people.

The full study can be found here.

The findings show sustained supermajority support:

• 95% of non-LGBTQ Americans believe schools should be safe and accepting for all youth
• 93% say children should be taught to appreciate and accept people as they are

Negative impact of relentless disinformation campaigns against LGBTQ people:

• 80% support LGBTQ equal rights, down from a record high of 84% one year ago
• 70% of LGBTQ GenZ adults report discrimination based on their sexual orientation
• LGBTQ adults report negative mental health impact, fear for their safety, and online and real world harassment as a result of the political discourse in the country

Positive impact of accurate media coverage:

• News coverage and political debates around our community is leading to greater readiness to voice support for LGBTQ people: non-LGBTQ Americans are 1.3x more motivated to openly support LGBTQ Americans, as opposed to being more fearful of supporting us
• Non-LGBTQ adults who see LGBTQ people in media are up to 50% more familiar with us, and up to 35% more comfortable interacting with us in various scenarios in life

Additional exclusive GLAAD data on anti-LGBTQ attacks

• Since January 1, 2024, there have been 516 anti-LGBTQ incidents in the US.
• From June 1, 2023 to June 1, 2024, there were 1,087 anti-LGBTQ incidents in the US. This is up 109% from the 519 incidents documented from June 1, 2022 to June 1, 2023.

Quote 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 at supermajority levels, the data this year also sounds substantial alarms about threats to this progress and to freedoms valued by every American. The same extremist lawmakers, judges and media sources targeting abortion access, contraception, free and fair elections, and free speech, are using the same strategies of fear and disinformation to undermine LGBTQ people and our equality. Fortunately, the data also points to proven ways to keep expanding and accelerating acceptance. Our study shows that more non-LGBTQ people have been inspired to speak up for LGBTQ equality as a result of accurate news coverage, and voters have shown up in election after election to reject extremist candidates and their anti-trans campaigns. 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.”

Non-LGBTQ respondents for the Accelerating Acceptance Study were asked about their comfortability with LGBTQ people and impact of media coverage on their views.

Those who reported seeing LGBTQ people in entertainment media, and advertising reported:

• Up to a 35% increase in feeling comfortable learning a family member is LGBTQ
• Up to a 32% increase in feeling comfortable learning their doctor is LGBTQ
• Up to a 30% increase in feeling comfortable voting for out LGBTQ candidates for elected office
• Up to a 29% increase in feeling comfortable working with LGBTQ people

Additional research:

• Gallup: 7.6% of all Americans are LGBTQ, including more than one in five GenZ adults
• GLAAD: 94% of LGBTQ registered voters are definitely or probably voting in the 2024 elections. 53% of both registered and likely 2024 voters say they would oppose “a political candidate [who] speaks frequently about restricting access to health care and participation in sports for transgender youth.”
• All voter categories, including Republicans, overwhelmingly agree that “Republicans should stop focusing on restricting women’s rights and banning medical care for transgender youth and instead focus on addressing inflation, job creation, and healthcare costs.” 94% of LGBTQ voters, 76% of registered voters, 76% of likely 2024 voters, and 82% of swing voters agree.

Methodology:

The Accelerating Acceptance Study was conducted online in January 2024, among a national sample of 2,511 U.S. adults, age 18 or over, using sample sourced by Cint (who has the world’s largest consumer network for digital survey-based research). Data were weighted to ensure results represent the adult 18+ U.S. population.