A recent Gallup survey revealed that 1 in 6 Generation Z Americans identifies as part of the LGBTQ+ community, with about half of LGBTQ+ Americans identifying as bisexual. 

   As the generations have passed, more people have been able to stand up and confidently identify themselves as whatever they feel is the most comfortable. They had the courage to love who they wanted to love and be who they wanted to be. This set off a domino chain effect that allowed others to gain the confidence to stand with them and start making changes in LGBTQ+ rights across the globe.

   The number of people within Gen Z identifying as part of the LGBTQ+ community compared to previous generations shows a significant difference, with 15 percent of Gen Z being LGBTQ+ and the other generations not even hitting double digits. 

   Another survey from the Pew Research Center shows that along with higher numbers of participation, over 92 percent of adults within the LGBTQ+ community feel as though society has been more inclusive with LGBTQ+ people in the past decade, and hope that the next decade will be even better. With the help of LGBTQ+ members from different generations, the community has managed to challenge older and more typically conservative mindsets and started to fight for change in order to be able to represent themselves to the fullest.

   Over the years, many changes were made in the law and in the media’s perspective in order for members of the LGBTQ+ community to feel safer and more accepted in America. Though some parts of the community still need more support, this is gradual progress. As the years have passed, more and more celebrities have started to come out, one prominent one being Elliot Page, who came out as trans in December of 2020. Not only are celebrities coming out, but other celebrities are also declaring themselves as public allies of the LGBTQ+ community, like Ellie Goulding and Dua Lipa. As we continue to progress further when it comes to accepting and learning about the community, we might soon get to the point where people will feel safe enough to fully express themselves publically, knowing that they will be accepted and treated like any other person out there. 

   Even though I may be young myself, I personally think that we should be able to freely express ourselves as long as we are not harming anyone. Our identity and who we like are our own cup of tea. If you do not like that, then it’s fine. We are not pushing it onto you, so we expect the same treatment back from others. We are not that different from those who do not identify as LGBTQ+, so just feel free to come up to us. We don’t bite, we’re actually pretty fun once you get to know us.