Monday, June 20, 2011

What is the prevalence of LGBT?

Gary J. Gates, a demographer-in-residence at the Williams Institute on Sexual Orientation Law and Public Policy, a think tank based at the University of California, Los Angeles concluded estimates of the percentage of adults who self-identify as lesbian, gay,  bisexual, or transgendered across nine surveys conducted within a seven-year period.  Five of  those surveys were fielded in the United States and the others are from Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Norway  (See Page 3 of this report for a complete list, and individual statistics of each of the 9 studies he reviewed).

In summary, Gates concluded:

- An estimated 3.5% of adults (age 18 and over) in the U.S. identify as lesbian, gay, or bisexual.

- An estimated 0.3% of adults identity as transgender.

- Among adults who identify as LGB, bisexuals comprise a slight majority (1.8% compared to 1.7% who identify as lesbian or gay).

- Estimates of those who report any lifetime same-sex sexual behavior and any same-sex sexual attraction are substantially higher than estimates of those who identify as LGB.  An estimated 8.2% report that they have engaged in same-sex sexual behavior and nearly 11% acknowledged at least some same-sex sexual attraction.


See his full summary HERE.

Gate's estimates for sexual identities are higher than what was found earlier in the National Health and Social Life Survey, 1992 which reported:

- An estimate of 2.8% of male adults as identifying as homosexual, gay, lesbian, or bisexual, and

- An estimate of 1.4% of females as identifying as homosexual, gay, lesbian, or bisexual.

Finally, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) in 2011 provided the estimated percentages of adults by sexual identity in five national probability studies; percentage of those reporting same-sex partners in three national probability studies; and percentage of those reporting same-sex desire or attraction in two national probability studies:   Here

Gates' estimate of nearly 11% of LGBs acknowledging at least some same-sex sexual attraction did not support the probability studies reported by IOM.  The average percentage of reporting for same-sex attraction or desire reported by IOM was:  


7.4% of men 
10.4% of women 

If you average the percentages of these 5 probability samples (large scale, random), then the results for homosexual identity would be:

4.1% of men
3.7% of women 

So, this is not too far off of Gates' figure of  3.5%.  

The percents of attractions are higher.  Gates says nearly 11% in general, but if you average the studies IOM listed then you will see the women's stat is close at 10.4%, yet the men's stat is only 7.5%.  So, we can conclude from these findings that less men report same-sex attraction than women in studies of scientific rigor.

Although some people report same-sex attraction (in random study), less are inclined to identify as homosexual, gay, lesbian, or bisexual. 

Facts and Myths on Early Aversion Techniques in the Treatment of Unwanted Homosexual Attractions

From an orginal article by:
A. Dean Byrd, Ph.D., MBA, MPH
James E. Phelan, LCSW, Psy.D.

Abstract

Aversion techniques are no longer used to treat unwanted homosexual attractions, yet many myths concerning such practices still exist. Beginning in the late 1960’s at several academic institutions, clinical aversive techniques were experimentally introduced as part of the curriculum and investigation of evolving aversive procedures, which were applied to a variety of conditions, including unwanted homosexual attractions (McBride, 1976; Rachman & Teasdale, 1969). Since their introduction, these techniques were the object of varying media coverage. Primarily for public consumption, many of the media reports contained significant misinformation and serious inaccuracies regarding aversive techniques and their uses.

This paper is an attempt to provide accurate information about the use of aversive techniques in general, to address some of the myths associated with aversive techniques, and to provide a more accurate description and assessment of what did and did not occur during the period in which aversive techniques were applied to a variety of client symptoms, including unwanted homosexuality.

Full article: HERE