Some Basic Facts

• How many people are lesbian, gay, or bisexual?
• What kind of people are homosexual and bisexual?
• What causes homosexuality?
• Isn’t homosexuality a sickness?
• Is violence against lesbians and gays a real problem?
• Are lesbian, gay, bisexual and questioning youth at a higher risk for some problems because of societal homophobia?

How many people are lesbian, gay, or bisexual?

Alfred Kinsey found that approximately 13% of men and 7% of women identified as “exclusively homosexual,” in studies conducted during the 1930s, 40s, and 50s. The “Kinsey Scale” shows how fluid human sexual orientation is. This six point scale, ranging from “exclusively heterosexual” to “exclusively homosexual” suggested that about 4% of all people would classify themselves as exclusively homosexual, 50% would identify as exclusively heterosexual, and 46% of people would place themselves somewhere between these two. It is commonly agreed, based on Kinsey and other studies, that about 10% of any population is probably homosexual. An estimated 22 million Americans are lesbian or gay. Approximately 2.9 million youth in the U.S. are lesbian or gay.

What kind of people are homosexual and bisexual?

Homosexuality has existed across many cultures throughout history. Lesbian, gay and bisexual people are included among athletes, artists, military leaders, government and political leaders, writers, composers and people in all socio-economic classes and all racial and ethnic groups. Some historically outstanding lesbian, gay, or bisexual people include :

Martina Navratalova (1956- , Czech-born US athlete)

Audre Lorde (1934-1992, US writer)

Barney Frank (1940- , US congressman)

Yukio Mishima (1925-1970, Japanese writer)

Virginia Woolf (1882-1941, British writer)

Edmonia Lewis (1844?-1911?, Chippewa/US artist)

James Baldwin (1924-1987, US writer)

Berenice Abbott (1898-1991, US photographer)

Abu Nuwas (756?-810, Arabian Poet)

David Kopay (1942- , US athlete)

Alexander the Great (356-323 B.C., Macedonian king)

Lorraine Hansberry, 1930-1965, US playwright)

Frida Kahlo (1907-1954, Mexican artist)

Pu Yi (1906-1967, Chinese emperor).

What causes homosexuality?

Many studies have been conducted over many years to discover what determines a person’s sexual orientation. So far, none of these studies have proven anything conclusively. It is likely that a complex set of factors combines to determine whether a person will develop a heterosexual, bisexual, or homosexual orientation. It is generally agreed that a person’s sexual orientation has been developed by the time s/he is 5 years old.

Isn’t homosexuality a sickness?

No. The American Psychiatric Association removed homosexuality from its list of mental disorders in 1973, declaring that it is simply a form of sexual expression. In 65% of 76 societies surveyed by anthropologists, Ford and Beach, “homosexual activity is considered normal and socially acceptable.”

Is violence against lesbians and gays a real problem?

Yes. In a survey titled “Anti-Gay/Lesbian Violence, Victimization & Defamation in 1993,” the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF) documented 1,813 incidents of anti-lesbian/gay harassment and violence in six cities across the U.S.

Are lesbian, gay, bisexual and questioning youth at a higher risk for some problems because of societal homophobia?

Yes. Members of this population are at higher risk for drug and alcohol abuse, dropping out of school, becoming homeless, and attempting suicide. (Sears, Helping Students Understand Sexual Diversity, Educational Leadership, September 1991) The 1989 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Task Force on Youth Suicide found that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and questioning youth are three times more likely to attempt suicide than are heterosexual youth.