There are no firm numbers, but according
to one estimate
the number of people in the United States who identify as gay or lesbian is
less than 10% of the total population.
According to other estimates, those who
identify as transgender are even fewer—less
than 1% of the population. Other elements of the LGBTQ+ alliance number even
less.
Which is why it’s so interesting that
issues of sexuality and “alternative gender”currently take up so much news
coverage and public debate—for instance, questions surrounding the legalization
of same-sex marriage, proper restroom etiquette for transgender individuals,
public funding for sex-change operations, adding “nonbinary” as a third option
on state documents requesting gender identification, and more. It seems like
every week brings another similar, major story, covered by all the major news
outlets—liberal, moderate, and conservative alike.
Many of these can be genuine stories,
not meaningless fluff. And all of these people are human beings and deserve to
have their voices heard. But it is still fascinating how such a small segment
of the population, with little to unite the group beyond the fact that they are
all “non-gender-conforming”, has such a hold over state and national
conversations.
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