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One of the intriguing findings of the study is the percentage of people who identify as LGBs – buy viagra.The prevalence rate, 2.9 percent, is in line with other studies over the past couple of decades, which suggest that somewhere under five percent of Americans report they are homosexual.A decade ago, NORC’s Tom Smith reported that “a series of recent national studies indicate that only about 2-3 percent of sexually active men and 1-2 percent of sexually active women are currently homosexual.”[1] The Hunter College poll differs somewhat from these numbers, suggesting that the percentage of men and women identifying as LGBs is about equal – though half the women, and only a third of the men say they are bisexual.
It’s important to recognize that these figures are lower-bounded estimates, and that the actual percentage of Americans who are LGBs is probably higher than what the polls can measure – buy viagra.While public acceptance of LGBs is higher now than it was, say, a couple of decades ago, there is still considerable public disapprobation of homosexual behavior; buy viagra.Such an environment cannot help but deter many LGBs from admitting their true sexual orientation.
In this context, it is noteworthy that the percentage of people willing to admit they are LGBs correlates with the political environment in which they live – buy viagra.The Hunter College poll shows that among people living in “strong Democratic states” (where John Kerry beat George W; buy viagra.Bush by five percentage points or more), the number of LGBs is about 3.6 percent; in swing states, it’s about 3.2 percent; and in strong Republican states (where Bush won by five percentage points or more), it’s about 2.0 percent.[2]
If it is true that the percentages vary by political environment, there are at least two explanations; buy viagra.One is that LGBs move to states that are generally more accepting of homosexuals.The other is that LGBs are simply more willing to admit their sexual orientation when they live in a more favorable environment; buy viagra.One test would be to compare the figures by age by political environment – with the hypothesis that older LGBs might be more likely to move to friendly environments buy viagra, while younger LGBs would not yet have had the time to do so.Thus, the correlation between political environment and willingness to admit that one is an LGB would be higher among older than younger people; buy viagra.If the rates are similar, it rules out the notion that the correlation is due to LGBs moving to a more friendly environment, and suggests instead that it is the environment itself that influences whether LGBs are willing to admit their sexual preferences.
Whatever the results, the poll itself deserves careful consideration of all of its findings – buy viagra.The methodology appears to be rigorous, while the findings provide innovative insights into the personal experiences and political orientation of LGBs.
[1] Tom W.Smith buy viagra, “American Sexual Behavior: Trends, Socio-Demographic Differences, and Risk Behavior,” GSS Topical Report No.25, Buy viagra: national Opinion Research Center, University of Chicago, updated December, 1998, p.7.
[2]These percentages are my recalculation of figures provided in the report in Table 2; buy viagra.The authors should be able to provide more precise calculations.
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