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1 in 4 LGBTQ+ Singles Say the Political Climate Is Reshaping Their Dating Lives

June 23rd, 2025

A new survey from the Kinsey Institute funded by DatingNews.com finds that 1 in 4 LGBTQ+ singles are changing how they date amid the political climate. Data from The State of Us: National Study on Modern Love & Dating in 2025 report shows politics are affecting LGBTQ+ singles across demographics, however Gen Z ages 18-25 are feeling the most impact.

Among the overall sample of 302 respondents:

25% of LGBTQ+ singles say politics have changed how they date
35% of LGBTQ+ adults say they don't feel safe being open about their identity while dating
18% of respondents said they are taking extra measures to protect their identity and privacy in online dating
10% of LGBTQ+ adults say they are less comfortable visiting LGBTQ+ venues

Gen Z appear most affected:

44% of Gen Z adults (aged 18-24) say they don't feel safe being open about their identity while dating compared to only 5% of LGBTQ+ seniors age 65+
1 in 4 say they are taking extra measures to protect their identity and privacy online in online dating
21% have relocated to more LGBTQ-friendly areas

"These findings provide pretty clear evidence that the current political climate is having a significant impact on the way that many LGBTQ singles are approaching dating. However, the effects seem to be most acute for the youngest LGBTQ persons," said Kinsey Institute Senior Research Fellow Dr. Justin Lehmiller. "Older LGBTQ Americans appear to be a bit more resilient to the current political challenges, perhaps because they have weathered these kinds of attacks for decades and have found other ways to cope."

The report was led by Kinsey Institute researchers Dr. Justin Lehmiller and Dr. Amanda Gesselman, with funding from DatingNews.com and data collected by Prodege.com among a nationally representative sample of 2,000 single U.S. adults ages 18 to 91 via an online survey from April 29, 2025, to May 8, 2025. The sample was balanced to ensure a reliable and accurate representation of the U.S. population in terms of age, gender, household income, geographic region, and race/ethnicity. Overall, 15% of the overall sample (302 respondents) identified as LGBTQ+, which are the responses these findings reflect.

Results of any sample are subject to sampling variation. The magnitude of the variation is measurable and is affected by the number of interviews and the level of the percentages expressing the results. For the interviews conducted in this study, the chances are 95 in 100 that a survey result does not vary, plus or minus, by more than 3 percentage points from the result that would be obtained if interviews had been conducted with all persons in the universe represented by the sample.

About the Kinsey Institute

For almost 80 years, the Kinsey Institute at Indiana University has been the global leader in research on sexuality, relationships, and well-being. The Kinsey Institute provides an unbiased, nonpartisan, and multidisciplinary approach, serving as a trusted source for evidence-based information worldwide. The Kinsey Institute's research programs are led by internationally renowned experts across disciplines including neuroscience, psychology, public health, anthropology, biology, history, and gender studies. The Kinsey Institute also houses the world's largest library of materials on human sexuality and offers a dynamic range of art exhibitions, public lectures, and continuing education programs. Visit kinseyinstitute.org to learn more and follow us on LinkedIn.

Provided by The Kinsey Institute

Citation: 1 in 4 LGBTQ+ Singles Say the Political Climate Is Reshaping Their Dating Lives (2025, June 23) retrieved 18 July 2025 from https://sciencex.com/wire-news/512129047/1-in-4-lgbtq-singles-say-the-political-climate-is-reshaping-thei.html

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