Brian Finnegan article in the Independent

Ten of Swords

I was quite suprised to read in Brian Finnegan's article that the current estimate for the LGB population still stands at around 10%

I had heard the one in ten figure years ago and suspected it was arrived at due to the attitudes of society at the time (mid-20th century) but even now, with more liberal attitudes towards sexuality and an progressively diminishing stigma associated with non-heterosexual lifestyles, the anonymous surveys still cannot get past a figure of approximately 10%

I don't know why that disappoints me but it does, I always suspected the figure would be much higher if social pressure was removed and people were prepared to be honest (I assume fluidity, spectrum and other such considerations are covered by the 'don't know' responses)

Nonetheless it is an interesting article and he raises a good point that in the upcoming referendum women are likely to be under-represented and the anti-gay groups maintaining their focus that gay male couples are harmful to children.

Brian Finnegan article

Survey statistics article

Pai Mei

Well tbh 10% is high enough I suppose when u remove like young children and elderly from the population. Its almost half a million people in a small country. Not too bad. In future years I think the nimber will rise tho as younger people's attitudes to homosexuality are getting better and I think the whole stigma about being with another person of the same sex will decrease.
Out of interest do they ask if you are homosexual on the census??

Annasopra

No there is no census question on whether a person is homosexual or not. Even if there was - it would be very problematic - lots of people not out to people they live with - then identity is an issue - identifying as gay or homosexual or bisexual or other identities

sydthebeat

Didn't Today fms latest survey shOw that 1 in 7 thirty somethings have had a same sex experience?
I suppose it comes down to how far on the spectrum you tHink you are

ewan whose army

The problem is a lot of guys don't identify as gay or bi even if they have had same sex experiences. Thats why medical bodies use terms like MSM etc.

I identify as gay because I know I love guys and I don't want to hid my true self from others, but that may not be true for others.

L.Jenkins

The LGBT Community is a lot bigger then people care to imagine, even the LGBT Community itself. If the above bell curve, which is the best I can find at the moment is to be believed, based on the Kinsey scale, Hetrosexuals are the minory

ewan whose army

The Kinsey study doesn't have a big enough sample