Teen Girls' LGB Identification Drops, CDC Data Show

CDC data analyzed by San Diego State University researcher Jean Twenge show that the share of high school students identifying as lesbian, gay, or bisexual declined between 2023 and 2025, with the drop larger among girls than boys. The change was especially pronounced among younger students: ninth graders’ identification fell from 17% to 11%, while the share among 12th graders declined from 18% to 16%. Separate comparisons cited in coverage show a sharp fall among ninth-grade girls since 2021, driven largely by fewer identifying as bisexual, though rates among older girls remain above pre-pandemic levels. Researchers say the reasons are unclear and that more evidence is needed to determine whether the decline marks a lasting trend; commentators have suggested political, cultural, social-media, and peer influences, while detransitioner Walt Heyer cautioned that social-media trends and bullying could affect how teens identify or report their orientation.