Comparing to this Gallup poll of adult Gen Zers (18-25 year olds):
High schoolers: 26% LGBTQ; 12% bisexual, 11% questioning/other, 3% gay/lesbian
Gen Z adults: 21% LGBTQ; 15% bisexual, 3% questioning/other, 4.5% gay/lesbian
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They also found that, among all high schoolers that have had a sexual experience, 1 in 5 have had a same-sex experience (20%; 14% with both genders, 6% only with the same gender). Assuming that number will probably go up for them as they have more experiences.
And I feel like that’s pretty interesting to note, because there’s an annoying stereotype going around that most bi people, especially bi women, will only fall into opposite-sex experiences because they’re a 1 or 2 the Kinsey scale. Obviously those people are valid too, but I don’t think they represent the majority of bi people, and there’s often some invalidation coming when people say that. I saw this study posted on Reddit, and people were like “it’s probably just 99% straight kids looking for attention and trying to feel unique.” That just isn’t true.
Some anecdotal talk: I go to a progressive-ish college, and from my uni experience so far, I’d say like 1/4 of the people I became friends with at random (mostly guys) have ending up telling me they’re LGBT in some form or another. And yeah, most of those people are bi.
Most bi people I know don’t seem to have a preference at all, actually, a good chunk of them (including me) seem to have a preference for the same gender. I think I know one bi guy that says he only likes very feminine guys and enbies, so he’s only been with girls so far. But other than that, all the bi people I know have either been with both main genders or only the same-gender! I had a talk with my straight friends actually, a lot of them said they have maybe a 5% same-sex attraction, but wouldn’t identify as anything but straight because they can’t see themselves with the same gender. I mean they could if they wanted to, that’s probably an even much larger chunk of the population, but I’m assuming most people like that will keep identifying as straight.
Yeah I’m only 20 and grew up in a small town that definintely had it’s homophobia, so I was closeted for all of HS. But seeing it so widely accepted in college even among frat boy types, who have a lot of queer members themselves, definintely helped me accept myself more. So far every straight guy I’ve talked to told me they have a bi or gay friend when I told them I’m bi. Some of them even acted as wingmen without asking and that’s how I had my first two gay kisses.
Being with other masculine guys also kinda defied heteronormative expectations in my head where I figured I had to be “the man of the relationship” in a gay relationship or whatever. Kinda realized that that can be both of our jobs. I mean, this super cute guy tried to teach me how to play the guitar by moving my fingers, wrote me an original song, and bought me real AND lego flowers, had me kicking my feet in the air like a teenage girl lmao
I’m also in uni and have had a similar experience meeting queer people everywhere on campus, but most guys (and girls) I’ve talked to have only been interested in hook ups or situationships, never anything serious 😭 though I must admit I don’t really put myself out there much in the first place
