LGBT poll in Canada

[Hatman]

http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/07/06/the-true-north-lgbt-new-poll-reveals-landscape-of-gay-canada/

Interesting findings:
5% of Canadians identify as LGBT (10% of young people identify as such, meaning the actual number is probably more than 10% of the general public)
74% of Canadians know someone who is LGBT.
28% have someone in their family who is LGBT
2/3rd support gay marriage, including majorities in every province except Alberta.
80% of NDP supporters support gay marriage compared to just 68% of Liberals and 46% of Tories.
7% of NDP supporters are LGBT, 3% of Tories and just 1% of Liberals (probably a huge margin of error here though).
Women are more likely to support SSM than men (72-60.5); but both are equally as likely to be LGBT (indicates to me that women are more likely to admit being bisexual, as there are fewer lesbians than homosexual men)
People in lower income brackets are less likely to support gay marriage, yet LGBT people are more likely to be in lower income  brackets. (the former isn't that surprising, considering most immigrants fall into this category, although the person who wrote that article didn't mention that, and instead mentioned people in lower class jobs are more likely to be intolerant. But, I think place of origin is more of an indicator than profession. The latter is more surprising, considering I thought that many gays were well off, because they are less likely to have children to support. But, I suppose this is based on circumstantial evidence of some of the gays I know)

[afleitch]

An interesting study. The % of people who identify as LGBT is always difficult; many people have same sex relationships but would never identify as LGBT. And of course being asked the question prompts a different response from self-reporting. Halfway between 5-10% seems about right, though 10% in young people is promising which is hopefully the result of it being easier to simply be out.

[Hatman]

An interesting study. The % of people who identify as LGBT is always difficult; many people have same sex relationships but would never identify as LGBT. And of course being asked the question prompts a different response from self-reporting. Halfway between 5-10% seems about right, though 10% in young people is promising which is hopefully the result of it being easier to simply be out.

My thinking is the number is above 10%, because young people are more likely to tell the truth, and I see no reason to believe that older people are actually less likely to be LGBT (but are less likely to report it, especially if they are just bisexual). And since there are a few young people who wont admit it either, then one can hypothesize the number of LGBT is even higher than 10%.

[State Comptroller Atkins]

Yeah, there are almost certainly some closet LGBT people in the older age groups (many of whom may even be married to a member of the opposite sex) who didn't come out when they were young because it was more of a taboo back then.

[afleitch]

An interesting study. The % of people who identify as LGBT is always difficult; many people have same sex relationships but would never identify as LGBT. And of course being asked the question prompts a different response from self-reporting. Halfway between 5-10% seems about right, though 10% in young people is promising which is hopefully the result of it being easier to simply be out.

My thinking is the number is above 10%, because young people are more likely to tell the truth, and I see no reason to believe that older people are actually less likely to be LGBT (but are less likely to report it, especially if they are just bisexual). And since there are a few young people who wont admit it either, then one can hypothesize the number of LGBT is even higher than 10%.

I think some studies have suggested (for want of a better) word that ‘not exclusively attracted to the opposite sex’ people make up to around 10-15% so I would agree with you. Because homosexuality is a human trait there is no reason as to why different parts of the world should report significantly higher or lower instances than elsewhere. Studies in more ‘open’ nations tend to show higher rates. Strip back the social stigma and the number of LGBT people is higher. What is also interesting in this study (and other studies) is the % of people saying they know someone who is LGBT. If LGBT people made up just a few % of people then the numbers of people who know someone who is LGBT would be significantly lower. If it’s closer to 1 in 10, then the results make more sense.

[danny]

The latter is more surprising, considering I thought that many gays were well off, because they are less likely to have children to support. But, I suppose this is based on circumstantial evidence of some of the gays I know)

I assume this because LGBT in the study are much younger than the population, and younger people are generally poorer.

[asexual trans victimologist]

Is there anything at all to indicate that it's actually the case that there are 'fewer lesbians than gay men' or is it a question of more men admitting to being gay, similar to more women admitting to being bisexual?

[Hatman]

Is there anything at all to indicate that it's actually the case that there are 'fewer lesbians than gay men' or is it a question of more men admitting to being gay, similar to more women admitting to being bisexual?

Maybe, but I saw a study that compared sexuality to left handedness where 10% of the population was LGBT and 10% of the population was left handed, while the proportion of gays to lesbians was the same as male lefthanders and female lefthanders. Not sure how credible that is, though. But, I think it's obvious that there are more out and out gay men than Lesbians out there. At least from my observations.

[Smid]

Earl, you're surprised about lower incomes? Perhaps the higher proportion of young people identifying may result in more students and people who got a job right out of school? Just speculation on my part, but such a demographic would be less likely to fall in a high income bracket?

EDIT: Oh, I see Danny beat me to that suggestion. Sorry.

[asexual trans victimologist]

Is there anything at all to indicate that it's actually the case that there are 'fewer lesbians than gay men' or is it a question of more men admitting to being gay, similar to more women admitting to being bisexual?

Maybe, but I saw a study that compared sexuality to left handedness where 10% of the population was LGBT and 10% of the population was left handed, while the proportion of gays to lesbians was the same as male lefthanders and female lefthanders. Not sure how credible that is, though. But, I think it's obvious that there are more out and out gay men than Lesbians out there. At least from my observations.

That seems like a ridiculous just-so story to me.

From my observations it's kind of the other way around, but the environments in which I spend my time may not be representative.

[Hatman]

You see more Lesbians than homosexual men usually?  Interesting.  Porn doesn't count btw

[Holmes]

Is there anything at all to indicate that it's actually the case that there are 'fewer lesbians than gay men' or is it a question of more men admitting to being gay, similar to more women admitting to being bisexual?

I wish I had more (anecdotal?) evidence to back it up, but for women, sexuality is a really confusing thing - pretty fluid and could go either way until it's settled. For men, it's more clear cut... you know what you are, even at a young age. There's less of a grey area than with women.

[asexual trans victimologist]

You see more Lesbians than homosexual men usually?  Interesting.  Porn doesn't count btw

I don't watch porn. About half of my close friends are queer women of some description. Although keep in mind that I study Japanese girls' magazine serials from the 1920s and attend Episcopal churches in the Amherst/Northampton, Massachusetts area.

[Hatman]

Yeah, I'll let some one in the LGBT community answer that question, I guess. I have limited knowledge from watching gay pride parades (mostly men), watching the rainbow rockers curling league (almost 100% men) and knowing a "few gay people" (I don't know any lesbians, but I've met a few bisexuals, including my girlfriend). I also had gay neighbours growing up (also men).

[Mr. Morden]

I thought that most such surveys showed that gay men somewhat outnumber lesbians, yet bisexual women somewhat outnumbered bisexual men.

[asexual trans victimologist]

I thought that most such surveys showed that gay men somewhat outnumber lesbians, yet bisexual women somewhat outnumbered bisexual men.

Surveys measure self-identification, which I'm always skeptical of, although I can't think of any inherent reason why this (or, for that matter, the converse) wouldn't be able to be the case.