People Think 1 in 4 Americans are Gay

A new Gallup poll indicates that the average American believes that a quarter of the population is gay or lesbian. Additionally, 35% of those polled think the figure is even higher.

Participants were asked, "Just your best guess, what percent of Americans today would you say are gay or lesbian?" Only 4% of respondents say less than 5% of Americans are gay. Gallup asked the same question in 2002, with average estimates that 21% of men were gay and 22% of women.

The poll is a heavy contrast from the Williams Institute study from earlier this year counting only 3.5% of the population as gay, lesbian, or bisexual, and another 1% as transgender.