Relationship company Match has debuted "LGBTQ in America," the largest nationally representative study of U.S. singles who identify as LGBTQ.
Conducted by Research Now in association with evolutionary biologist and gender-studies professor Dr. Justin R. Garcia ( of the Kinsey Institute at Indiana University ), the data reveals facets of the attitudes, behaviors and challenges of the LGBTQ single population.
The study surveyed a representative sample of more than 1,000 LGBTQ singles between the ages of 18 to 70+ across the United States who are not currently in a committed relationship.
Among the revelations are that:
—Gay men: Twenty-five percent realized they were gay when they were less than 10 years old, 50 percent by 13 years old, and 75 percent by 18 years old.
—Lesbians: Twenty-five percent realized by 12 years old, 50 percent at 15 years old, and 75 percent by 20/21 years old.
—The typical gay man has had 30 lifetime sexual partners and lesbian women have had 12 sexual partners. Regionally, gay men in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Riverside have the highest average number of sexual partners, while gay men in Boston have had the least.
—Time in the closet: Twenty-five percent of LGBTQ singles came out the same year they say they "realized" their sexual orientation or gender identity; and
—Dating Online: Fifty-six percent of LGBTQ singles have dated someone they met online, with transgender singles dating the most online ( 65 percent ).
For more detailed study findings on LGBTQ singles, visitSinglesinAmerica.com .
