You may live in a major metropolitan city, where being gay is not an issue in your work or private life. But according to a recent GLAAD survey, young people were the only group to show a decline in acceptance of LGBTQ people. Divisive rhetoric in the Trump era and the “newness” of certain labels are likely to blame.
Usually the most tolerant group, 18 to 34-year-olds showed a marked decrease in comfort levels around LGBTQ people in various situations.
The Accelerating Acceptance Index found that 36% of young Americans felt “very” or “somewhat” uncomfortable learning a family member is LGBTQ, compared to 29% in the 2018 report.
• 34% said they felt uncomfortable having an LGBTQ doctor (27% in ’18)
• 39% would feel uncomfortable if their child were to have an LGBTQ history lesson in school (30% in ’18)
John Gerzema, CEO of research firm The Harris Poll which collaborated with GLAAD to conduct the survey said,
“We typically see in our surveys that younger Americans can be counted on to advocate for issues like gender equality, immigration and climate change.
So it is surprising to see a notable erosion of acceptance for the LGBTQ community, which counters many of the assumptions we make about their values and beliefs. In this toxic age, tolerance––even among youth––now seems to be parsed out. Nothing today should be taken for granted.”
GLAAD counted 114 attacks by Trump on the LGBTQ community since he took office in its Trump Accountability Project.
When separated by gender,
• 43% of non-LGBTQ men aged 18 to 34 felt uncomfortable learning a relative is LGBT (11% more than ’18)
• 42% of men in the same group were uncomfortable with their child having an LGBTQ teacher (37% in ’18)
• 40% of young women would be uncomfortable if their child had a LGBTQ history lesson in school (27% in ’18)
GLAAD president Sarah Kate Ellis said:
“The sharp and quick rise in divisive rhetoric both in politics and in culture is now having a negative influence on younger Americans and coinciding with an alarming pattern of anti-LGBTQ violence and discrimination.
As we commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, LGBTQ people and allies must urgently address today’s cultural crisis by being visible and vigilant.”
But overall, 8 out of 10 Americans supported equal rights LGBTQ people, a number which has remained stable.
This is the same man who is now pushing anti-#LGBT policy as president. #transgendertroops https://t.co/CE2EN2BwNZ
— Southern Poverty Law Center (@splcenter) July 26, 2017
(via Pink News)
