10% of the world belongs to the LGBT community... True or False? What do you think?

i believe theres more LGBT citizens than we know of.
ALOT are scared of comin out, either it be because of their families beliefs,
the society itself, or wuhhever personal reason.
Also, alot of people are in denial about wether or not they belong in the LGBT society.

I'd say it's about 8... It's probably skewed by the number of young adults that think they're bi but then turn out to be straight later on...

The recent study by Pathela and others in the Annals of Internal Medicine (September 2006) is the first one in decades to look seriously at both self-identification of sexual preference AND actual sexual activity. It showed that 4% of males SAID they were gay, and 12.5% actually PREFERRED AND PRACTICED homosexual sex routinely.

That matches Kinsey's study (maligned by the Right for decades) perfectly. I think that it is indeed, overall, one in ten. Not only does that match the type of numbers you see on gay dating sites, at gay clubs, and sadly at gay "pick up spots" -- but it also matches what I have seen in my lifetime. 36 males in my HS graduating class, 3 of us were gay (small school); 32 males in the next year's graduating class, 4 were gay. I have also always been very popular and friendly, and OUT. Ultimately, just about 1 out of 8 or so of the guys I've known has come to me, sooner or later, and told me that they actually preferred males and didn't like sex with females. Some came out eventually (Including one who came out at 40) but more than half (and we are in the northeast) remain closeted, many of them married - but having sex as often as they can with other guys.

It's one in ten, and in a healthy society, they could all be open. That would be better for all of us.

Kind thoughts,

Reyn

It is most definitely more, and will most likely increase as the human population increases and the ability to fight disease increases. Nature always finds a way to take care of itself.

I tend to think it's a little higher, but as you say in your tag message, it's hard to know for sure. In the end the actual statistic shouldn't really matter as long as you treat people with respect, regardless of their sexual orientation.

At least... it seems to be the same across species.

I would assume that if I were LGBTQ living in an area that stigmatised being a member of the LGBTQ community (which is unfortunately a lot of places) I wouldn't be telling anyone that I was LGBTQ.

As the pressure to be secretive about one's sexuality decreases, more and more people are coming out. This is especially true for women, as lesbians and bisexual women (at the present moment, anyway) are subject to less abuse and pressure than gay and bisexual men. As the tide against bigotry is turned, it will become evident that many more people than anyone ever suspected are bisexual, or at least are open to sexual experiences other than
the heterosexual.

Kinsey's survey was conducted long before the gay rights movement started, and he still got 10% of people to admit to some sort of same-gender attraction or activity. I'm sure that many gay/lesbian/bisexual people in those days, even when promised confidentiality, were still too frightened to admit their true sexuality.`1

My guess is it's at least 10% but in many areas, most remain in the closet acting out a heterosexual role due to the social pressures and costs attached to being who they really are.

Old saying from the 70's We Are Everywhere.

if research shows the 10%, I guess there must be a core of truth in it, but I think the real number must be somewhat higher

I think that there are more Some LGBT never fully come out I don't think that there will ever be a 100% accurate statistic on this.

10% or less.

Has to be.

there are more gay people in the world than we realize. most are afraid of what their friend/family will think so they keep it bottled up.