The United States boasts nearly 1,300 elected officials who identify as LGBTQ+, a figure that continues to rise with each election cycle. However, this number still falls significantly short of accurately representing the LGBTQ+ community.
Recent data from a Gallup poll reveals that approximately 7.6% of U.S. adults identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or as something other than heterosexual. This marks a notable increase from 3.5% in 2012 when the poll first began measuring sexual orientation and transgender identity.
Despite this growth in LGBTQ+ identification among adults, less than 1% of elected officials in the U.S. openly identify as LGBTQ+. It’s worth noting that this statistic does not account for those who may hold office but have not publicly come out.
To achieve full representation of the queer population in government, over 35,000 LGBTQ+ individuals would need to be elected, according to the Victory Institute, a nonprofit dedicated to training LGBTQ+ leaders for political office.
While LGBTQ+ representation in government remains insufficient, the organization’s annual report highlights progress in various areas:
- The majority of LGBTQ+ elected officials in 2022 identified as gay, with 544 gay men holding positions in local, state, and federal governments.
- Between 2021 and 2022, there were increases in non-binary and genderqueer elected officials (from nine to 12), transgender elected officials (from 41 to 45), and bisexual elected officials (from 71 to 90).
The rise in adults identifying as LGBTQ+ signifies a growing sense of societal acceptance and the presence of supportive environments for queer individuals, as noted by Brandon Robinson, an associate professor at the University of California, Riverside.
States vary in LGBTQ+ representation in public office, with some notable trends:
- States like Alabama, Wyoming, and Idaho each have one elected official who identifies as queer.
- On the other hand, states such as California, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Michigan have more than 50 LGBTQ+ elected officials.
- While ten states saw a decrease in LGBTQ+ elected officials from 2021 to 2022, 22 states experienced an increase.
Additionally, the majority of LGBTQ+ elected officials (75.1%) are affiliated with the Democratic Party, compared to a smaller percentage (3%) affiliated with the Republican Party.
Annise Parker, President and CEO of the Victory Institute, emphasizes the crucial role LGBTQ+ elected officials play in defending rights and freedoms, stating that they represent the strength and diversity of society and the vision for future generations.