A new poll conducted by Brown University reveals a significant increase in LGBTQ identification among its student body over the past decade. The poll, conducted by the university’s newspaper, the Brown Daily Herald, found that 38% of students now identify as LGBTQ, compared to just 14% in 2010. This represents a nearly three-fold increase in non-heterosexual identification.
Interestingly, the majority of this surge has occurred in the last three years. In 2019, nearly 80% of students still identified as heterosexual. This sudden shift has led some to suggest that there might be a “social contagion” effect, rather than a genuine change in sexual orientation or a newfound confidence to openly express LGBTQ identities.
This notion is supported by the findings of Lisa Littman, a gender-dysphoria researcher and former assistant professor at Brown University. Littman argues that peer pressure could be a significant factor in young people identifying as transgender. Another study conducted by the US Center for the Study of Partisanship and Ideology found that LGBTQ identification rates ranged from 51% to 70% at three other elite private liberal arts schools in America.
However, it is worth noting that while LGBTQ identification has seen a significant increase, sexual behavior patterns have not necessarily kept pace. Eric Kaufmann, a researcher for a think tank, pointed out that if the surge in LGBTQ identification was solely due to people feeling more comfortable coming out, we would expect to see a similar rise in sexual behavior. This indicates that there may be other complex factors at play.
Brown University, founded in 1764 and located in Providence, Rhode Island, is one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in the United States. It is currently ranked 13th among the nation’s four-year universities by US News & World Report. Tuition, fees, housing, and other costs at Brown total nearly $90,000 per year.
The significant increase in LGBTQ identification at Brown University is well above the national average. A Gallup poll conducted earlier this year found that 7.2% of US adults identify as something other than heterosexual, which is double the rate from a decade ago. Additionally, nearly 21% of Generation Z adults, those born after 1997, identify as LGBTQ.
These findings shed light on the evolving landscape of student identities and the increasing acceptance and recognition of different sexual orientations in our society. Brown University’s poll provides valuable insight into the experiences and self-identifications of its student body, contributing to a deeper understanding of LGBTQ issues and representation on college campuses.
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