US study shows bisexuals less likely to be out

Bisexuals account for 40 percent of queers surveyed in new Pew study

Only 28 percent of American bisexuals are out of the closet to important people in their lives, according to new Pew Research.

According to Pew’s Survey of LGBT Americans, 77 percent of gay men and 71 percent of lesbians are out to their friends and family.

Of bisexuals, women are much more likely to be out (33 percent) than men (12 percent), the survey found. Women accounted for three quarters of the survey respondents’ bisexuals.

Bisexuals are also much younger than gays or lesbians, the research shows.

The study of 1,197 LGBT Americans found that 40 percent of LGBT people are bisexual, 36 percent are gay men, 19 percent are lesbians, and 5 percent are transgender.

Niko Bell

Niko Bell is a writer, editor and translator from Vancouver. He writes about sexual health, science, food and language.

Keep Reading

The new generation of gay Conservative sellouts

OPINION: Melissa Lantsman’s and Eric Duncan’s refusals to call out their party’s transphobia is a betrayal of the LGBTQ2S+ community

Over 300 anti-LGBTQ2S+ bills have been introduced this year. This doesn’t mean we should panic

OPINION: While it’s important to watch out for threats, not all threats are created equally. Some of these bills will die a natural death

Xtra’s top LGBTQ2S+ stories of the year

The best and brightest—even most bewildering—stories from a back catalogue brimming with insight

Elon Musk and Texas attorney general Ken Paxton are suing Media Matters. Here’s why queer and trans people should care

OPINION: When politicians and the rich leverage the power of the state to quell dissent, we all lose