News Opinons

Young Americans’ LGBTQ Acceptance Plunges 63% to 45% in Two Years

A survey produced by the Harris Poll in partnership with Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) finds young Americans’ comfort with LGBTQ individuals has plunged from 63 percent in 2016 to 45 percent in 2018.

According to the Accelerating Acceptance report, Americans aged 18-34 who say they are comfortable interacting with LGBTQ people dropped from 63 percent in 2016 to 53 percent in 2017, and then to 45 percent in 2018.

The survey results are published as lesbian, gay, and transgender activists celebrate Pride month.


“At the same time, the Trump administration continues to attack the LGBTQ community through discriminatory policies and targeted rhetoric, and LGBTQ Americans are becoming more vulnerable to hate crimes and violence,” GLAAD said in response to the survey outcome.


House Democrats demand Kash Patel take alcohol test under penalty of perjury after Atlantic report
Minnesota allows ‘happy hour’ in nursing homes under new law easing alcohol restrictions
ICE detains illegal immigrant accused of sexually assaulting minor after hospital parking lot birth
US military launches first-ever autonomous warfare command to deploy unmanned systems across Latin America
Top California Dem running for office tied to Chinese school accused of US diploma scandal
Appeals court rules ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ can stay open, rejecting push for federal environmental impact review
EXCLUSIVE: DHS honors angel families during National Crime Victims Week, calls crimes ‘completely preventable’
Democrats win Virginia redistricting fight, threatening Republican House majority
‘Melrose Place’ and ‘Starship Troopers’ Actor Patrick Muldoon Dies at Age 57
Top House Republican Warns Ilhan Omar That Her Financial Disclosure Revision Won’t Save Her
EXCLUSIVE: Pence warns GOP ‘must deliver,’ or Planned Parenthood gets taxpayer cash on Fourth of July deadline
House Republican Campaign Committee Blows Democrats Away with Historic Fundraising Quarter
Pro-Iran Jimmy Kimmel Mocks Peace Talks, Says He’s ‘More Likely to Believe the Ayatollah’ Than Trump
Democrat Trying to Flip Pennsylvania Seat Apologizes for Pro-Police, Pro-Gun, Pro-God Posts
Trump Recounts Helping Out ‘Incomparable’ Tim Cook as Longtime Apple CEO Steps Down

President Donald Trump tweeted his support of the LGBT community by condemning“dozens of countries worldwide that punish, imprison, or even execute individuals on the basis of their sexual orientation.”

See also  Virginia redistricting referendum tightens into a dead heat as early voting surges

“My Administration has launched a global campaign to decriminalize homosexuality and invite all nations to join us in this effort!” the president said.


House Democrats demand Kash Patel take alcohol test under penalty of perjury after Atlantic report
Minnesota allows ‘happy hour’ in nursing homes under new law easing alcohol restrictions
ICE detains illegal immigrant accused of sexually assaulting minor after hospital parking lot birth
US military launches first-ever autonomous warfare command to deploy unmanned systems across Latin America
Top California Dem running for office tied to Chinese school accused of US diploma scandal
Appeals court rules ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ can stay open, rejecting push for federal environmental impact review
EXCLUSIVE: DHS honors angel families during National Crime Victims Week, calls crimes ‘completely preventable’
Democrats win Virginia redistricting fight, threatening Republican House majority
‘Melrose Place’ and ‘Starship Troopers’ Actor Patrick Muldoon Dies at Age 57
Top House Republican Warns Ilhan Omar That Her Financial Disclosure Revision Won’t Save Her
EXCLUSIVE: Pence warns GOP ‘must deliver,’ or Planned Parenthood gets taxpayer cash on Fourth of July deadline
House Republican Campaign Committee Blows Democrats Away with Historic Fundraising Quarter
Pro-Iran Jimmy Kimmel Mocks Peace Talks, Says He’s ‘More Likely to Believe the Ayatollah’ Than Trump
Democrat Trying to Flip Pennsylvania Seat Apologizes for Pro-Police, Pro-Gun, Pro-God Posts
Trump Recounts Helping Out ‘Incomparable’ Tim Cook as Longtime Apple CEO Steps Down

Among the survey’s findings are that the acceptance of LGBTQ individuals among young women dropped from 65 percent in 2016 to 64 percent in 2017, and then plunged to 52 percent in 2018. Among males, 62 percent were accepting in 2016, plunging to 40 percent in 2017, and then further down to 35 percent in 2018.

The percentage of young Americans who said they were uncomfortable with an LGBTQ family member increased from 24 percent in 2016, to 29 percent in 2017, and then to 36 percent in 2018.

Additionally, the discomfort of young Americans has increased with the thought of their child’s placement with an LGBTQ teacher, from 25 percent in 2016 to 29 percent in 2017, and then to 33 percent in 2018.

See also  Virginia could lose influence in Congress if Spanberger’s gerrymander passes

Also, 39 percent of younger Americans said they were uncomfortable discovering their child experienced an LGBTQ school lesson, compared with 30 percent in 2017 and 27 percent in 2016.

In contrast, the survey showed that American adults aged 72 and older have decreased in their discomfort with LGBTQ lessons in schools, 47 percent to 37 percent.

John Gerzema, CEO of the Harris Poll, called the survey results “alarming” and “toxic,” reported USA Today.

“We count on the narrative that young people are more progressive and tolerant,” he said. “These numbers are very alarming and signal a looming social crisis in discrimination.”

Gerzema suggested the cause of the drop in LGBTQ acceptance is due to young people on social media who are exposed to “mean tweets.”

“Our toxic culture is enveloping young people,” he said.


House Democrats demand Kash Patel take alcohol test under penalty of perjury after Atlantic report
Minnesota allows ‘happy hour’ in nursing homes under new law easing alcohol restrictions
ICE detains illegal immigrant accused of sexually assaulting minor after hospital parking lot birth
US military launches first-ever autonomous warfare command to deploy unmanned systems across Latin America
Top California Dem running for office tied to Chinese school accused of US diploma scandal
Appeals court rules ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ can stay open, rejecting push for federal environmental impact review
EXCLUSIVE: DHS honors angel families during National Crime Victims Week, calls crimes ‘completely preventable’
Democrats win Virginia redistricting fight, threatening Republican House majority
‘Melrose Place’ and ‘Starship Troopers’ Actor Patrick Muldoon Dies at Age 57
Top House Republican Warns Ilhan Omar That Her Financial Disclosure Revision Won’t Save Her
EXCLUSIVE: Pence warns GOP ‘must deliver,’ or Planned Parenthood gets taxpayer cash on Fourth of July deadline
House Republican Campaign Committee Blows Democrats Away with Historic Fundraising Quarter
Pro-Iran Jimmy Kimmel Mocks Peace Talks, Says He’s ‘More Likely to Believe the Ayatollah’ Than Trump
Democrat Trying to Flip Pennsylvania Seat Apologizes for Pro-Police, Pro-Gun, Pro-God Posts
Trump Recounts Helping Out ‘Incomparable’ Tim Cook as Longtime Apple CEO Steps Down

Sarah Kate Ellis, GLAAD president, said the decline in young Americans’ acceptance of LGBTQ is surprising, given their contact with more people who identify as such, noted the news report.

See also  Transportation industry showers son-in-law of transportation secretary with cash to fuel congressional bid

In the report, GLAAD notes that “young people are identifying as LGBTQ in higher rates than ever before.”

“This newness they are experiencing could be leading to this erosion,” Ellis said. “It’s a newness that takes time for people to understand. Our job is to educate about non-conformity.”

The LGBTQ activists explain that, when a decline in acceptance of this population was observed among younger males, “GLAAD launched a program dedicated to working with the video game industry on LGBTQ inclusion, to bring LGBTQ characters and stories to a world where male audiences were consuming content.”

According to USA Today, Ellis and Gerzema attribute the drop in LGBTQ acceptance to political rhetoric and policy changes, “such as a ban on transgender people in the military and religious exemption laws that can lead to discrimination, Ellis and Gerzema said. Both are a likely force behind the young’s pushback on tolerance, they said.”


House Democrats demand Kash Patel take alcohol test under penalty of perjury after Atlantic report
Minnesota allows ‘happy hour’ in nursing homes under new law easing alcohol restrictions
ICE detains illegal immigrant accused of sexually assaulting minor after hospital parking lot birth
US military launches first-ever autonomous warfare command to deploy unmanned systems across Latin America
Top California Dem running for office tied to Chinese school accused of US diploma scandal
Appeals court rules ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ can stay open, rejecting push for federal environmental impact review
EXCLUSIVE: DHS honors angel families during National Crime Victims Week, calls crimes ‘completely preventable’
Democrats win Virginia redistricting fight, threatening Republican House majority
‘Melrose Place’ and ‘Starship Troopers’ Actor Patrick Muldoon Dies at Age 57
Top House Republican Warns Ilhan Omar That Her Financial Disclosure Revision Won’t Save Her
EXCLUSIVE: Pence warns GOP ‘must deliver,’ or Planned Parenthood gets taxpayer cash on Fourth of July deadline
House Republican Campaign Committee Blows Democrats Away with Historic Fundraising Quarter
Pro-Iran Jimmy Kimmel Mocks Peace Talks, Says He’s ‘More Likely to Believe the Ayatollah’ Than Trump
Democrat Trying to Flip Pennsylvania Seat Apologizes for Pro-Police, Pro-Gun, Pro-God Posts
Trump Recounts Helping Out ‘Incomparable’ Tim Cook as Longtime Apple CEO Steps Down

“We are seeing a stark increase in violence in the community,” Ellis added.

“In this toxic age, tolerance –even among youths – now seems to be parsed out,” said Gerzema. “Nothing today should be taken for granted.”

Story cited here.

Share this article:
Share on Facebook
Facebook
Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter