LGBT People Are Everywhere: New Study Ranks How Many By City

A new poll finds that yes, San Francisco has the highest percentage of LGBT people, but the rest of the results may surprise you.

San Francisco has more than earned its reputation as one of the most liberal cities and the one with the highest percentage of LGBT people. A new Gallup study confirms that fact – 6.2 percent of residents publicly identify as LGBT – but finds other common assumptions may not be quite right.

For instance, New York City doesn’t even make Gallup’s top ten list. It comes in at number 23, with four percent of the population saying they are LGBT. That may be diluted as Gallup organized the data by metro area, so New York City includes parts of New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Number two on the list? Portland, Oregon (5.4%) followed by Austin, Texas (5.3%) and New Orleans (5.1%).

 

The Gallup study ranks the top 50 metro areas, so the area listed with the lowest percentage (Birmingham, Alabama, at 2.6%) isn’t necessarily the lowest percentage overall.

 

What difference does it make? Plenty. From local lawmakers creating social programs designed to assist local populations, to establishing medical facilities for specific groups, to deciding where you want to live or visit, this data can be invaluable.

One last note: The study tallies people who are willing to say they are LGBT. It’s highly likely the actual numbers are higher.

 

Charts via Gallup
Image of San Francisco by David Goehring via Flickr and a CC license