To celebrate National Coming Out Day Tuesday, Oct. 11, Match reveals data from its 2016 LGBTQ in America study, the largest U.S. national study of American singles who identify as LGBTQ. The data uncovers new insights around singles’ personal journey of realizing their sexual orientation and coming to terms with who they are.
“The data reveals our understandings of sexual orientation and gender identity have come a long way over the last few years. New scientific research, coupled with dozens of public figures embracing their identities, has ushered in a new era of understanding and acceptance around sexuality and gender. The data from our LGBTQ in America study highlights the many different personal stories of people realizing their sexual orientation and gender identity: while 1-in-4 single LGBTQ people surveyed came out in the same year they realized their identify, the remaining three quarters felt compelled to not share who they are with others in their life. While the tides are changing, we still have work to do, to reduce stigma and instead celebrate America’s rich diversity,” said Justin Garcia, Research Scientist at The Kinsey Institute and Scientific Advisor to Match.
Data Includes:
Age of Self-Described Realization:
- Gay Men – 25% realized they were gay when they were less than 10 years old, 50% by 13 years old, and 75% by 18 years old.
- Lesbian women – 25% realized by 12 years old, 50% at 15 years old, and 75% by 20/21 years old.
- Transgender men (FtM) – 50% realized their gender didn’t match their bodies before their 13th birthday and 75% by the age of 16.
- Transgender women (MtF) – 50% realized they were transgender before their 13th birthday and 75% of people realized before age 20.
Time in the closet:
25% of LGBTQ singles came out the same year they say they “realized” their sexual orientation or gender identity. Of those who realized before adulthood (defined as age 18), they went an average of 7 years before telling someone they identified as LGBTQ. Additionally, of those who realized during adulthood, it took an average of 2.9 years to come out.
Who is most comfortable coming out?
Those assigned male at birth waited the longest before telling someone, with an average of 1.6 years longer compared to biologically born females. Transgender women took an extra 2.1 years before telling someone than a gay or bisexual man, and transgender men waited the shortest amount of time without telling someone.
Born this way:
Gay, lesbian, and bisexual singles overwhelmingly believe that sexual orientation is biologically based, with two thirds (64%) believing it is completely determined by biology and 28% believing it is a combination of biology and experience. Only 7.5% of LGB singles believe sexual orientation is determined by experience alone.
