"Those queers didn't exist back in my day!" That's a phrase you would probably hear from many of these accidental allies. But the truth is that LGBTQ+ people have always existed; they just had to hide their identities out of fear. Today, luckily, more and more queer people aren't afraid to show the world who they are, thanks to decades of hard work by activists on LGBTQ+ visibility.
It's true that an unprecedented share of young people can proudly say that they're part of the LGBTQ+ community. As of 2024, almost 30% of Gen Z Americans claimed they identify as LGBTQ+. In comparison, 16% of Millennials, 7% of Generation X, 4% of baby boomers, and 4% of the Silent Generation identified as LGBTQ+.
What do you envision when you think about an LGBTQ+ person coming out? Is it a conversation they have with their parents, friends, perhaps sometimes coworkers? Do they change the way they dress and talk in order to live their most authentic lives? Do they post a video or an essay on social media to tell their story?
The truth is that "coming out" can look wildly different to each person. According to a 2025 Pew Research Center survey, most LGBTQ+ individuals have come out to their friends. 18% say they're not out to siblings and 23% haven't come out to their parents. Extended family members are the least likely to find out if an individual is LGBTQ+, as 32% of Americans don't come out to them. They also don't bother coming out to coworkers, as one in four LGBTQ+ Americans said they haven't.
Each queer person's journey can also be very different. Today, young people feel more comfortable coming out and may do so at an earlier age, whereas some queer individuals in the past waited until they were older. Most LGBTQ+ Americans (58%) know their orientation before the age of 14, yet many do not come out at that time. Many wait until they are older, with the largest group coming out between the ages of 18 and 24.
There's also an interesting disparity between younger and older LGBTQ+ individuals. A higher proportion of younger individuals (49%) come out before they're 18, and only 24% of those currently aged 50 or older did so.
Strides have been made in LGBTQ+ visibility, yet not all members of the community can boast equal rights and the same level of social acceptance. In fact, while the majority of gay, lesbian, and bisexual individuals feel accepted in society, nonbinary and transgender people can't say the same. 44% of American nonbinary individuals don't feel accepted, and a whopping 52% of transgender individuals also say the same.
Representation in media and politics would increase LGBTQ+ visibility, according to the community members themselves. Americans believe that religious leaders expressing support for the community would do the most to help the community feel accepted.
If more politicians, singers, celebrities, actors, and other public figures came out as LGBTQ+, that would increase the community's visibility. The same goes for characters in TV shows, movies, and books. The LGBTQ+ community also believes that companies should do more to increase their visibility.
Have you ever known a person who was an accidental ally, Pandas? Let us know in the comments! The world certainly would be a much better place if more folks would swap hatred and bigotry for acceptance, love, and support. If you're in the mood, check out this story about how a pastor humiliated a Karen by defending his gay daughter and this list of parents showing unconditional support for their LGBTQ+ kids!
