General Public
Looking at a multitude of surveys, the general public of America supports the LGBTQ+ overall today. In 1977, polls showed America equally divided on whether homosexuality should be legal. In 2002, 53% believed that homosexuality should be legal. Over time, it seems that support for same-sex couples is increasing. Since December 2011, a poll by I side with shows 68% of those who answered believed Gay marriage should be legal compared to 38% who believed the opposite4%. Another poll in beginning in March 2016 shows that 56% of people who responded that gender identity should be added to anti-discrimination laws compared to 44% who disagreed. Gallup poll shows that by May 2019, 73% believed that homosexual relations between two consenting adults should be legal. As for the armed forces, by 2019 83% of those who responded believe that LGBTQ+ should be hired for the armed forces, 71% supported
transgender in the military, and 70% favor openly gay and lesbian members serving in the military. This can be due to multiple factors such as an increase in education, publicity, political climate, and new legislation. Surprisingly, the generation of people 18-34 have decreased in their support of LGBTQ+ groups according to polls by GLAAD (“Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation”). The survey found that 52% of this age group was comfortable with a person identifying as LGBTQ+ compared to 64% in the previous years. Despite many still believing that LGBTQ+ should have equal rights, the decrease in people being comfortable among the LGBTQ+ community has alarmed many. An increase in hate crimes, in general, has also been recorded. “The number of hate crime incidents reported to the FBI increased by about 17 percent in 2017 compared with the previous year.” Some believe this is due to the current political climate in America. The news covers many stories about immigration and Trump. According to Sarah Kate Ellis, the President of GLAAD claimes “We’ve been erased from news media coverage because its turned into Trump TV 24/7.” She also states “When you have a country and a culture that is normalizing hate and discrimination, you will see [people] move from an allied position to become detached supporters.”
The public opinion is obviously slowly changing for support of LGBTQ+ individuals. This is crucial to the achievement of equal rights. Without people believing their is an issue, nothing will change.