States With The Most (and Least) Self-Identified LGBTs

After interviewing almost 500,000 randomly selected adults in the U.S., a new Gallup survey finds the state with the highest percentage of self-identified LGBTs was Vermont with 5.3% of its citizens identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.

5.3% - Vermont
4.9% - Massachusetts, California and Oregon
4.8% - Nevada

The District of Columbia (obviously not a state) had the highest population of LGBTs with 8.6%.

Which states have the smallest populations of LGBTs?

2% - South Dakota
2.7% - North Dakota
2.8% - Idaho
3% - South Carolina, Montana

Interesting to note: other than Nevada, the areas with the highest number of LGBTs tend to be coastal states. Those states with the lowest numbers tend to be in midwestern and southern states.

These figures indicate a rise in the nationwide LGBT population from 3.5% in 2012 to 4.1% in 2016.

Gallup believes that social acceptance is the leading factor to more Americans being willing to be open about their sexuality. The vast majority of increases in these numbers come from millennials.