The gay rights movement was one of the fastest-moving civil rights movements in history. Now with some lawmakers moving to codify gay marriage rights into law, the federal government is revisiting gay rights for the first time since the Supreme Court decided Obergefell v. Hodges in 2015, a case that found that the constitutional right to marry is guaranteed to same-sex couples.
Some argue that the transgender rights movement has failed at replicating the success of the gay rights movement due to the more consequential impacts of transitioning and the impact on youth specifically. While much of the country remains deeply divided on trans issues, there has been much progress and common ground on LGBTQ issues as a whole. Here are a few examples of data and stories to support that:
- According to 2024 Gallup data, 69% of Americans believe that same-sex marriage should be valid, with support from 83% of Democrats, 74% of independents and 46% of Republicans who favor legalized same-sex marriage.
- 55% of Republicans, 65% of Independents, and 72% of Democrats say that there is too much anti-LGBTQ legislation and that politicians are using it as a wedge issue, according to a 2023 poll from Data for Progress (Left bias).
- 84% of Democrats, 72% of Independents, and 53% of Republicans feel comfortable with a close friend coming out as LGBTQ according to the Spring 2022 Harvard Youth Poll.
- The Williams Institute finds that a majority of LGB (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual) Republicans and Democrats have disclosed their sexual orientation to those close to them. 72% of LGB Republicans and 94% of LGB Democrats are proud to be a part of the LGBT community.
- According to 2024 PRRI data, 75% of all Americans support legislation safeguarding LGBTQ+ individuals from discrimination in employment, public spaces, and housing. 89% of Democrats, 78% of Independents, and 62% of Republicans are in favor of the same.
- According to a 2025 Pew Research report, 91% of Democrats and 63% of Republicans believe transgender individuals experience at least some level of discrimination.
- In North Carolina, 87% of Republicans, 75% of Democrats, and 78% of Independents said that “conversion therapy” for those under 18 should be banned in their state, according to a 2019 poll from Public Policy Polling.
See more examples of common ground on issues where you might not expect to find it:
- Here's Where Democrats and Republicans Agree on Abortion
- Here's Where Democrats and Republicans Agree on Foreign Policy
- Here's Where Democrats and Republicans Agree on Social Media Issues
- Here’s Where Democrats and Republicans Agree on Crime
- Republicans and Democrats Actually Agree on These Gun Restriction Policies
Clare Ashcraft is the Bridging & Bias Assistant at AllSides. She has a Center bias.
Reviewed by Henry A. Brechter, Managing Editor (Center bias), and Andrew Weinzierl, Research Manager & Data Journalist (Lean Left bias)
