One in five young adult mormons self-identify as gay/Lesbian/Bisexual

[Daniel2]

One in five young adult Mormons in the US are gay, lesbian or bisexual

So far, GenZ Mormons look like Millennials in their sexual orientation, only more so, according to the largest dataset we've ever had about Latter-day Saints in America.

June 21, 2021

By 

Jana Riess

Share

Tweet

Share

With data analysis by Benjamin Knoll

More than a fifth of Generation Z Mormons do not self-identify as heterosexual, according to a major national study. One in ten are bisexual.

The Nationscape dataset, which canvassed more than 318,000 Americans on a rolling basis in 2019 and 2020, had 3,881 self-identified members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the survey. This makes it one of the largest studies of Mormons ever fielded in the United States.

One of the most valuable aspects of the data is what it can tell us about the basic demographics of the Mormon population, including gender, race, geography and sexual orientation.

Not surprisingly, there is more sexual diversity among younger Latter-day Saints than older ones. As shown below, while 94% of Boomers said they were heterosexual, just 77% of Generation Z did. (This analysis borrows Pew’s cutoff dates for the generations, which uses 1997 as the first birth year of GenZ. Only adult GenZers over the age of 18 were eligible for the study.)

So, 23% of GenZers who identify as LDS say they are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or other. And nearly as many (19%) of Millennials did as well. It’s notable that this finding is nearly double the 10% that Benjamin Knoll and I found among Millennials in the 2016 Next Mormons Survey (which broke down into 7% bisexual, 2% gay or lesbian, and 1% “other”).

Let’s unpack the Nationscape study’s finding of 23% a bit more. Within GenZ, the major outliers compared to other generations of Mormons were the categories of bisexual and “other.”

	GenZ Mormons (n=523)	Millennial Mormons (n=1362)	GenX Mormons (n=973)	Boomer/Silent Mormons(n=1023 combined)
Heterosexual/straight	77%	81%	89%	93%
Gay/lesbian	7%	8%	6%	2%
Bisexual	10%	5%	2%	2%
Prefer not to say	1%	4%	2%	2%
Other	4%	2%	1%	0%

 

We think three points are worth making here.

First, generationally, sexual diversity is high among GenZ Mormons because it’s high among GenZ as a whole. In terms of sexual orientation, Nationscape’s GenZ Mormons look a lot like non-Mormons their same age:

	GenZ Mormons	GenZ non-Mormons
Heterosexual	77%	77%
Gay/lesbian	8%	5%
Bisexual	10%	12%
Prefer not to say	1%	3%
Other	4%	3%

 

So GenZ Mormons, like their counterparts around the nation, are more likely to be queer. According to Pew’s recent study of GenZ, they seem more comfortable with gender fluidity and same-sex marriage than any other generation, though Millennials come close.

GenZers are also more likely to feel fine admitting their sexual orientation on a survey. Fewer than 1% chose the “prefer not to say” option in the Nationscape study, compared to 2%–4% of the members of older generations who did not want to answer the question. The atmosphere today for admitting a non-heterosexual identity is far more hospitable than it was even a decade ago, and many GenZers don’t personally remember a time when they could be fired from a job for being LGB+.

The second point is that GenZ Mormons currently show more sexual diversity than older generations of Latter-day Saints because, frankly, some of them are statistically likely to leave the Church but have not yet done so.

The GenZ respondents in the Nationscape study were 18 to 22 at the time of the survey. According to our own research in The Next Mormons, the median age for leaving the Church is around 19. In other words, there is still some settling and sorting yet to happen here. We are by no means saying that all of these queer-identifying young adult Mormons are going to exit the Church, of course—only that statistically, more will likely do so than their heterosexual peers.

It’s not surprising that it’s harder for queerfolk to stay. The Church has made a point for years of fighting same-sex marriage, condemning nontraditional families as “counterfeit,” and preventing Church members who are in a same-sex relationship from attending the temple, holding certain callings or exercising the priesthood. While there have been important steps toward compassion and understanding in the last few years, that damage still runs deep.

So the percentage of queer GenZ Mormons will probably not be as high as 23% in future studies. That won’t be because these people will have magically become heterosexual as they get older. It will be because they will have ceased to be Mormon, and will drop out of the pool of respondents who currently identify as members of the Church. As well, some heterosexuals will likely continue to switch in to the religion through conversion, possibly enough to change the ratio going forward.

Finally, one surprising aspect of the study is related to race and geography. Nationscape’s data suggests that among Mormons, some racial and ethnic minorities were more likely to also be sexual minorities.

Among all Americans, heterosexuality was 87% for Hispanics and 90% for Blacks, but among Mormons it was 71% for Hispanics and 74% for Blacks. It’s a statistically significant difference because the sample size is big enough that this isn’t just a random sampling error. Still, it’s not clear why Black and Hispanic Mormons exhibit more sexual diversity than their non-LDS counterparts.

Incidentally, the Nationscape study showed a double-digit difference between Mormons who lived in Utah (94% heterosexual) and those who did not (83% heterosexual). This echoes and widens a smaller four-point difference we found in the 2016 NMS regarding the sexual orientation of Mormons in Utah versus Mormons elsewhere.

We speculate that this is the result of self-selection, in that red-state Utah may just be a more challenging place for sexual minorities to live, at least outside of Salt Lake City.

https://religionnews.com/2021/06/21/one-in-five-young-adult-mormons-in-the-us-are-gay-lesbian-or-bisexual/?fbclid=IwAR1fwh1wJpeeG7krJGOYMm46ajAd-LecSw6mmsn7IRVHaAubBr_SS3eaSqY

————————-

Wow. Interesting and surprising article, and certainly food for thought as to how the above may affect the future of the church. 

Edited June 21, 2021 by Daniel2

[Fair Dinkum]

Yet another ominous warning sign for those in the Seer business. 

[The Nehor]

5 minutes ago, Fair Dinkum said:

Yet another ominous warning sign for those in the Seer business. 

Please don't make vague threats against Punxsutawney Phil.

[JustAnAustralian]

Would be interesting to see a longitudinal study of these GenZ respondents to see if there is any variation as they get older.

[The Nehor]

The data I have seen both collected and anecdotal is that most bisexuals who settle into a relationship end up in a heterosexual one. The anecdotes might be skewed as I associate a lot with (and belong to) a demographic that has a statistically high incidence of people self-identifying as bisexual. The collected data is also weak.

I have no idea how this will play out in the church.

[JustAnAustralian]

2 minutes ago, The Nehor said:

The data I have seen both collected and anecdotal is that most bisexuals who settle into a relationship end up in a heterosexual one.

I've also read that females are more likely to be bisexual than males, but that was quite a while ago. Would be interesting to see if there is statistically significant sex difference for each category.

[Hamba Tuhan]

1) I do not, nor have I ever, identified with any late 19th-century Western social construct of sexuality, hetero-, homo-, bi-, or otherwise.

2) One of my former housemates now lives in a city where several of his friends have 'come out' as non-heterosexual specifically because doing so makes unchastity more socially acceptable, apparently. My friend even said to me that he was thinking about it as well since then, when he breaks the Law of Chastity (as he has done on many occasions), people will look on him with pity and compassion instead of judgement.

3) Clearly we are dealing with a cultural phenomenon.

4) If we teach these youth and young adults the truth -- historically, anthropologically, and linguistically grounded -- they'll be fine since it meshes perfectly with our doctrines.

[The Nehor]

25 minutes ago, JustAnAustralian said:

I've also read that females are more likely to be bisexual than males, but that was quite a while ago. Would be interesting to see if there is statistically significant sex difference for each category.

That may be because it is more culturally acceptable rather than a variance in numbers.

23 minutes ago, Hamba Tuhan said:

1) I do not, nor have I ever, identified with any late 19th-century Western social construct of sexuality, hetero-, homo-, bi-, or otherwise.

2) One of my former housemates now lives in a city where several of his friends have 'come out' as non-heterosexual specifically because doing so makes unchastity more socially acceptable, apparently. My friend even said to me that he was thinking about it as well since then, when he breaks the Law of Chastity (as he has done on many occasions), people will look on him with pity and compassion instead of judgement.

3) Clearly we are dealing with a cultural phenomenon.

4) If we teach these youth and young adults the truth -- historically, anthropologically, and linguistically grounded -- they'll be fine since it meshes perfectly with our doctrines.

1) Okay.

2) I have no idea what that means. If you mean that it lets you escape a relationship or marriage when you come out yeah, sort of. Most people in general hate cheaters though. That applies across all sexualities unless the people involved agree to different rules.

3) Yes. That is obvious.

4) The views of 1950s America on sexuality are not backed by a preponderence of historical evidence as 'the norm'.

Edited June 21, 2021 by The Nehor

[JAHS]

1 hour ago, Hamba Tuhan said:

3) Clearly we are dealing with a cultural phenomenon.

I think so too. Or are there really physiologically more gay people now than there were back in the 50s? Is it a matter of some kind of biological evolution happening that more people are born gay?

 

[Duncan]

1 minute ago, JAHS said:

I think so too. Or are there really physiologically more gay people now than there were back in the 50s? Is it a matter of some kind of biological evolution happening that more people are born gay?

 

could be but unless this kind of study was done back then we would have no idea, but now it's more acceptable to be open about your sexuality, back then forget it. 

[Daniel2]

7 minutes ago, JAHS said:

I think so too. Or are there really physiologically more gay people now than there were back in the 50s? Is it a matter of some kind of biological evolution happening that more people are born gay?

 

I agree there’s absolutely a cultural phenomenon unfolding. I’m not as convinced that there’s a biological evolution happening, though…There’s certainly more social acceptance of queer/questioning/non-traditional sexualities and sexual identities, as well what appears to be younger people being less inclined to put themselves in any type of box or specific labels. 

Edited June 22, 2021 by Daniel2

[Hamba Tuhan]

1 hour ago, The Nehor said:

2) I have no idea what that means. If you mean that it lets you escape a relationship or marriage when you come out yeah, sort of. Most people in general hate cheaters though. That applies across all sexualities unless the people involved agree to different rules.

It means that, if a single male breaks the Law of Chastity with a woman, almost everyone in the Church sees that as wrong. But there appears to be a growing trend in the Church -- at least where my former housemate lives -- that if a single male first identifies as gay or bisexual or sexually fluid or whatever before breaking the Law of Chastity, then people will be less judgemental because it's super unfair to expect 'queer' people to have to follow the Law of Chastity. Love and acceptance and all that.

Quote

3) Yes. That is obvious.

Clearly not to everyone ...

Quote

4) The views of 1950s America on sexuality are not backed by a preponderence of historical evidence as 'the norm'.

Exactly!

[ksfisher]

2 hours ago, Fair Dinkum said:

Yet another ominous warning sign for those in the Seer business. 

And lots of warm fuzzy feelings of schadenfreude for those members of the church in the anti prophet and apostle business.

[Calm]

14 minutes ago, Daniel2 said:

I agree there’s absolutely a cultural phenomenon unfolding. I’m not as convinced that there’s a biological evolution happening, though…There’s certainly more social acceptance of queer/questioning/non-traditional sexualities and sexual identities, as well what appears to be younger people being less inclined to put themselves in any type of box or specific labels. 

My opinion is the comfort level of dealing with sexual feelings and behaviors outside purely heterosexual ones in our culture has gone way up in the past 70 years and a new set of socially acceptable labels are being experimented with.  I don’t think culturally changing views of sexuality are unusual, at least in the West.  From what I have read, culture has always been changing in this area.  At the very least, it will change due to changing status of common sexual partners (as they move in and out of cultural roles).

Whether this leads to a more accurate understanding of sexuality in the future as it dispenses with the traditional Western view and hopefully more commonly starts to examine sexuality historically as well as in the context of current views without this overlay of interpretation or if expanded comfort level just screws up the common understanding even more with other inaccurate interpretations, who knows. 

Edited June 22, 2021 by Calm

[Calm]

38 minutes ago, Hamba Tuhan said:

if a single male first identifies as gay or bisexual or sexually fluid or whatever before breaking the Law of Chastity, then people will be less judgemental because it's super unfair to expect 'queer' people to have to follow the Law of Chastity.

Are they accepting of infidelity or promiscuity in the new relationship or just monogamous homosexual relationships?

Edited June 22, 2021 by Calm

[The Nehor]

8 minutes ago, JAHS said:

I think so too. Or are there really physiologically more gay people now than there were back in the 50s? Is it a matter of some kind of biological evolution happening that more people are born gay?

 

The difference is more likely to be an epigenetic one. Things that have to do with environment or experience that occur on a level below conscious thought. Similar to the way sexual attractions, kinks, and fetishes are formed. Difficult to know what causes those epigenetic variations since they usually occur young. I am going to go ahead and say it is all due to television. Look at the correlation.

7 minutes ago, Duncan said:

could be but unless this kind of study was done back then we would have no idea, but now it's more acceptable to be open about your sexuality, back then forget it. 

They wouldn't understand the distinction if you asked them about it. It is a modern construct. Same sex activity existed but was not seen as an identity.

[The Nehor]

13 minutes ago, Hamba Tuhan said:

It means that, if a single male breaks the Law of Chastity with a woman, almost everyone in the Church sees that as wrong. But there appears to be a growing trend in the Church -- at least where my former housemate lives -- that if a single male first identifies as gay or bisexual or sexually fluid or whatever before breaking the Law of Chastity, then people will be less judgemental because it's super unfair to expect 'queer' people to have to follow the Law of Chastity. Love and acceptance and all that.

People in the church? Weird.

[Hamba Tuhan]

9 minutes ago, Calm said:

Are they accepting of infidelity or promiscuity or just monogamous homosexual relationships?

Pretty much anything as long as the person has first 'come out' in some way.

[The Nehor]

Just now, Hamba Tuhan said:

Pretty much anything as long as the person has first 'come out' in some way.

Anything you say? Any idea what housing prices are like in that area? Asking for a friend.

[Hamba Tuhan]

17 minutes ago, The Nehor said:

People in the church? Weird.

And if it's happening here, it will be happening elsewhere. How many times on this forum have we been lectured that it is wrong to expect anyone with a diverse 'sexual identity' to live the Law of Chastity (unlike all the other single people in the Church). Or told that we have to do better making Church a 'safe space' for such people.

Edited June 22, 2021 by Hamba Tuhan

[Hamba Tuhan]

2 minutes ago, The Nehor said:

Any idea what housing prices are like in that area?

Amongst the 20 most expensive cities in the world.

[The Nehor]

9 minutes ago, Hamba Tuhan said:

And if it's happening here, it will be happening elsewhere. How many times on this forum have we been lectured that it is wrong to expect anyone with a diverse 'sexual identity' to live the Law of Chastity (unlike all the other single people in the Church). Or told that we have to do better making Church a 'safe space' for such people.

I honestly don’t expect anyone to keep the law of chastity. Single, married, or non-heteronormative. Some do of course but it is a hard road.

7 minutes ago, Hamba Tuhan said:

Amongst the 20 most expensive cities in the world.

Figures.

Edited June 22, 2021 by The Nehor

[Kenngo1969]

1. I wonder, how was this sample selected?
2. While I realize that getting adequate sample size in groups such as this (i.e., it's difficult enough to get an acceptable sample size of Latter-day Saints period, let alone: (1) "Generation [Whatever]" (2) Latter-day Saints who (3) Identify as gay/lesbian/bis*xual, et cetera) is difficult (to say the least), can these sample sizes produce reliable, generalizable data?  (depending on other factors and on how respondents were selected, I might be OK with the one for which "n=1,362," but the others ... ?)
3. 7% and 8% of Generation Z and Millennial Latter-day Saints identify as gay/lesbian/bis*xual?  What are those percentages in the general population?  One is what one is, and if s/he has no problem identifying as such, that's fine by me.  Still, that seems awfully high.  (Is there a certain "cachet to being gay" (etc.) in the Church of Jesus Christ?) Again, how were these respondents selected?
4. "We're doing a survey on the attitudes toward intimate relationships among members of the Church of Jesus Christ" is one thing; "Are you gay/lesbian/etc. Latter-day Saint?  Then we've got a survey for you!" is entirely another.  (I'm not saying, necessarily, that that's what the researchers did, but considering that some of the numbers of these groups don't seem to match reported numbers in the general population, there is room to question.)

[Hamba Tuhan]

11 minutes ago, The Nehor said:

I honestly don’t expect anyone to keep the law of chastity. Single, married, or non-heteronormative. Some do of course but it is a hard road.

Of course it is! You and I both know that personally.

Carving out exceptions by claiming that it is harder -- impossible, even -- for certain classes of people is a Trojan horse intended to, in the end, destroy the Church's ability to teach the importance of chastity for anyone. Ms Helfer is very much aware of how this all plays out if she and her fellow travellers are allowed to keep contradicting the Lord on this matter.

Edited June 22, 2021 by Hamba Tuhan

[Calm]

5 minutes ago, Kenngo1969 said:

wonder, how was this sample selected?

Quote

Methodology
Nationscape is a survey conducting 500,000 interviews of Americans from July 2019 through December 2020, covering the 2020 campaign and election. The survey has been in the field since July 10, 2019, and it includes interviews with roughly 6,250 people per week.
Nationscape samples are provided by Lucid, a market research platform that runs an online exchange for survey respondents. The samples drawn from this exchange match a set of demographic quotas on age, gender, ethnicity, region, income, and education. Respondents are sent from Lucid directly to survey software operated by the Nationscape team. All respondents take the survey online and must complete an attention check before taking the survey. The survey is conducted in English.
The survey data are then weighted to be representative of the American population. Our weights are generated using a simple raking technique, as there is little benefit to more complicated approaches (Mercer et al. 2018). One set of weights is generated for each week’s survey. The targets to which Nationscape is weighted are derived from the adult population of the 2017 American Community Survey of the U.S. Census Bureau. The one exception is the 2016 vote, which is derived from the official election results released by the Federal Election Commission.
We weight on the following factors: gender, the four major census regions, race, Hispanic ethnicity, household income, education, age, language spoken at home, nativity (U.S.- or foreign-born), 2016 presidential vote, and the urban-rural mix of the respondent’s ZIP code. We also weight on the following interactions: Hispanic ethnicity by language spoken at home, education by gender, gender by race, race by Hispanic origin, race by education, and Hispanic origin by education.

https://www.voterstudygroup.org/uploads/reports/Data/NS-Methodology-Representativeness-Assessment.pdf