Recent data indicates a significant decline in trans identification among young people in the United States, with non-conforming sexual identities, such as queer and questioning, also experiencing a sharp decrease. In contrast, the identification as gay and lesbian has remained stable, while heterosexuality has seen a rebound of approximately 10 percentage points since 2023.
Freshmen entering the 2024-25 academic year are identifying as less trans and queer compared to seniors, a reversal from the trends observed during the surge of BTQ+ identities in 2022-23. This suggests a continued decline in gender and sexual non-conformity among youth.
The reasons behind this reversal are not attributed to a shift towards more conservative beliefs, as attitudes regarding social issues have remained stable throughout the 2020s. Improved mental health among students may partially explain the trend, as a reduction in anxiety and depression has been linked to a smaller proportion of individuals identifying as trans, queer, or bisexual. However, this mental health improvement occurred after the pandemic, while the shifts in sexual and gender identity were observed at least a year later.
Overall, the decline in anxiety and depression has affected all groups, including LGBT individuals, suggesting that the reduction in mental health issues is not solely responsible for the changes in sexual and gender identity identification.
