Are young people turning gay?

I think they feel more comfortable identifying themselves.

I think it's wonderful

Well, it’s a bit of a silly survey since “baby boomers” are likely to be settled in their sexuality/gender identification after so many years of life and teens are likely to be just experimenting with theirs and the possibilities as most teens do or did back in the past.

It’s meaningless but I’ve no doubt Stonewall will use it to prove something on their agenda.

It just tells me how corrupted Stonewall has become from its original reasonable stance to on gay rights. What kind of organisation relies on a distortion to prove a point?

I watched 2 gay men being interviewed on this survey. They both agreed it’s total b*&&#@#s.
It’s Stonewall up to its dirty tricks again ?

Thinking about while I put the washing in, a more relevant survey would have been to ask “baby boomers” how many of them experienced feellngs of being transgender or same sex attraction when they were in their teens.

That would have been relevant, though I suspect Stonewall considered it and realised it wouldn’t give them the result they could then use to justify their current stance.

Bytbat I mean a much higher percentage of baby boomers would have said yes to thinking about or doing things in their teens, perhaps the same as current teens, but then settled to mostly one choice as they got older. Perhaps irritatingly for Stonewall, the more conventional pathways.

Sexuality isn't always fixed. People can initially think they're one thing and have an experience which changes their viewpoint. And so on throughout their life.

With more permissive attitudes, picking one side may feel reductive.

Why the need to label people? As others have said many people experiment until they find what they really are, be that straight, gay, transgender, bisexual or anything else. Shouldn't we just be accepting people as people regardless of their sexual orientation.

We should be accepting of people regardless of their sexual orientation.

Unfortunately many still aren't

I think it's going to take a while as a fully enlightened society to heal those wounds and even then we will need to remember those past mistakes

I agree that young people will be more fluid in their sexuality than older folk, and this will affect the results. They may be experimenting and think they are one thing, then change back later. There is so much emphasis on gay rights now that this may also lead them in that direction, but maybe only temporarily.

Stonewall trying to keep itself relevant

It is absolutely nobody’s business who anyone chooses to have consensual sex with.

I think you might be mixing up gay and Transgender chestnut.

Which I don’t blame you because Stonewall mixes them up too, even though gay communities have repeatedly said they are quite different.

Gay rights have been to the forefront since the sixties, homosexuality was legalised in 1967, following the all for gay equality. Many gay/lesbian people are now content with their position in society and take no part of the current Transgender debate, others are concerned by transgender aggression towards GLB and are more active.

It’s not a criticism of your posting, just a thought that you are considering two completely different things and maybe misnaming.

I don’t think people can turn gay. They either are gay, or they’re not. A few are bi.

Also, many people from older generations were discouraged from experimenting with sex before marriage, so might have assumed they were straight as homosexuality was seen as deviant. I don't remember anyone being out as gay at my school (large mixed-sex comprehensive) in the 70s. Not anyone, which means that a lot of it must have been either hidden, suppressed or just not realised. Maybe people came out later, maybe they hid it, or maybe they just settled for a more comfortable and mainstream life - who knows.

I think it's a good thing that young people can be who they want to be, but really wish adults would leave them to it and not try to influence them.

I very much doubt that 1 in 4 people are actually gay - it's much more likely that that number has experimented and may have ticked the 'bi' box. Either way, I have no idea why any adult would think it was 'wonderful' or think anything about other people's sexuality really. There should be no value judgement put on sexuality - it is just what it is, and young people shouldn't feel that one way is 'wonderful' and, by definition, another is less so.

Also, in the 'Boomers'' day, there was no 'TQ+'. If you add in all the options Stonewall have shoehorned into the LGB category - many of which have nothing to do with sexuality but are about 'identification', then of course the numbers are going to be higher.

GrannyGravy13

Stonewall trying to keep itself relevant

It is absolutely nobody’s business who anyone chooses to have consensual sex with.

This is the crux of the matter, IMO.

I think it's 'wonderful' that people feel more comfortable identifying themselves

Interestingly that same survey revealed there were no transwomen........ 97% identified as either man or woman 1% transmen, 1% non-binary and 1% gender queer.

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I think people nowadays don't worry as much how others will react, there's much more acceptance and understanding than years ago.

maddyone

I don’t think people can turn gay. They either are gay, or they’re not. A few are bi.

I think human (just like animal) sexuality is a lot more complex than that.

when you hit puberty is when your sexual inclination is determined. It is not your choice!

I don't care who is doing what, or why.

There is only 15% difference so presumably it's just because it is more acceptable? I am not a boomer but even in the 90s it wouldn't have been acceptable in the community where I grew up or in my family. Whereas if my own children in their 20s were gay it would just be accepted

I realise discrimination still exists but not to the degree it has done in the past

also it was illegal in the 70s

MissAdventure

I don't care who is doing what, or why.

Exactly. It's genitals on genitals. Does it really matter if its an innie or an outie?

Choice is possible. As is experimentation.

Oldwoman70

Why the need to label people? As others have said many people experiment until they find what they really are, be that straight, gay, transgender, bisexual or anything else. Shouldn't we just be accepting people as people regardless of their sexual orientation.

Could not agree more, Olderwoman70.

I get irritated hearing the expression 'gay community' and wonder if it has evolved because the wider community makes them feel excluded or because they choose to be apart. Either way, is it really a good thing. Can't we all just live together as one?