This week Gallop reported that using the following method:
Results are based on telephone interviews conducted as part of the Gallup Daily tracking survey June 1-Sept. 30, 2012, with a random sample of 121,290 adults, aged 18 and older, living in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia, selected using random-digit-dial samplingit had put the following question, and received responses as indicated:
The report acknowledges:
As a group still subject to social stigma, many of those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender may not be forthcoming about this identity when asked about it in a survey. Therefore, it's likely that some Americans in what is commonly referred to as "the closet" would not be included in the estimates derived from the Gallup interviews. Thus, the 3.4% estimate can best be represented as adult Americans who publicly identify themselves as part of the LGBT community when asked in a survey context.And furthermore:
Transgender status can be an identity but can also include consideration of behaviors regarding gender nonconformity and an individual's internal sense of gender.They also asked the respondents to choose between a mishmash of race and language, and reported: *
Let me consider how I would have answered the question if some stranger rang my phone and put it to me. Well I probably wouldn't, as I usually have no time for intrusive phone calls. But suppose that I was in a particularly good mood. I am a married woman, so do I go in the 'no' column? On the other hand, I am an alumna from Gay Lib, so does that put me in the 'yes' column? Perhaps I was gay and transgender until I transitioned, but not after? How does Gallop record that?
The pioneer sexologists, Kinsey, Benjamin, Hirschfeld etc, asked what people did. Not what they identified as. Secondly they broke questions down. Are you gay; are you transgender? You can be either without the other, neither or both. This is not allowed for by Gallop.
How did Gallop expect a heterosexually-married transvestite to answer? What about a heterosexually married man who goes to the gay baths now and then? What about a heterosexually married man who pays to be bottomed by a trans prostitute? The last two types are sort of bi, but rarely speak up at bi-pride events, and almost certainly would opt for the 'no' column.
Then there is that very small word: 'or'. Easily missed when spoken. How many gays and lesbians said 'no' because they are not transgender? How many trans said 'no' because they do not identity as gay or lesbian?
I would love to know how many men said that they are lesbian, and how many women that are gay men.
Note how in the race-language mishmash the 'yes' column and the 'DK' column almost add to 10% (Kinsey's estimate).
It is interesting that the "non-Hispanic whites" gave fewer 'yes' answers. This is counter-intuitive based on what one sees at gay events. However given the bad design of the question, the result doesn't mean much.
Given the size of the sample one would expect over 100 of the respondents to be, or to have been some flavour of trans. However because of the bad design of the question, Gallop are not able to confirm this.
I suspect that the question was proposed by a Gallop manager, and that his underlings don't feel comfortable enough to point out that the question was a dumb question.
* This type of race-language mishmash is commonly used in the US. However one must ask a) where are the native Americans?** b) what do Chinese, Indian and Arab have in common such that they are one group? c) are Spanish-speaking Blacks, Black or Hispanic?
** Native Americans are particularly relevant for the question asked because the Two-Spirit tradition.
- "Special Report: 3.4% of U.S. Adults Identify as LGBT". Gallup Politics, Oct 18, 2012. www.gallup.com/poll/158066/special-report-adults-identify-lgbt.aspx.
- "3.2% of Americans Identify as LGBT, According to New Gallup Poll". The Advocate, Oct 18 2012. www.advocate.com/society/2012/10/18/32-percent-americans-identify-lgbt.
- "'White people are less likely to be gay': Poll reveals African-American community has highest percentage of 'LGBT' adults in U.S.". Mail Online, 19 Oct 2012. www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2220120/White-people-likely-gay-Huge-study-reveals-highest-proportion-homosexual-people-African-American-community.html.