We were surprised.
A new Gallup survey has broken down the number of self-identified LGBT people in every state, identifying the largest pockets of the community throughout the country.
After conducting interviews with nearly 500,000 randomly selected U.S. adults, Gallup found that the state with the largest population of LGBT residents was Vermont with 5.3% of its citizens identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.
The Green Mountain State was closely followed by Massachusetts, California and Oregon, each coming in at 4.9% and Nevada, which counted 4.8% of its population as LGBT. The top ten was rounded out with Delaware, New Hampshire, Washington, New York and Maine. Notably, the District of Columbia clocked in with the highest percentage of LGBT citizens at 8.6%.
States with the lowest percentage of LGBT-identifying residents included South Dakota at 2%, North Dakota at 2.7%, Idaho at 2.8% and both South Carolina and Montana at 3%.
Overall, LGBT self-identification rose nationwide from 3.5% in 2012 to 4.1% in 2016. Gallup says these increases indicate an increased social acceptance of the LGBT population, which contributed to participants’ willingness to open up about their sexuality. The group also notes that nearly all increases in the past five years came from millenials.
This finding is consistent with a recent GenForward survey, which found that young Americans are among the most accepting of the LGBT community, with 92% of young adults supporting HIV and AIDs prevention, 90% supporting equal employment and 80% supporting LGBT adoption.
