Increasing number of gen Zs identify as LGBTQIA+ as awareness improves

Study results are mixed when it comes to the number of young people identifying as LGBTQIA+.

In 2023, a survey of 1,367 young people by YouthSense found that about one-third of those aged 15 to 24 identified as LGBTQIA+.

Earlier this year, a study of 8,500 people by the Australian Catholic University found that 18.9 per cent of 16 to 24-year-olds do not identify as straight while 2.3 per cent identify as gender diverse. That's double the rest of the adult population which, according to the study, is about 9.5 per cent.

While sample sizes and outcomes vary, what is clear is that results are not straightforward and show there are critical gaps in research.

Historically, how people identify has not been included in the national Census. That's likely to change in 2026 although the exact questions are still under wraps.

So, there's that. But it's clear that more young people are identifying as LGBTQIA+ than previous generations and we're here to look at why.

'Not suddenly more gender diverse people'

Adrian Murdoch is the general manager of brand and business development at Minus18, an Australia-wide charity aiming to improve the lives of LGBTQIA+ youth through events, leadership programs, and community education.

"From one lens, our understanding of this figure isn't so much that suddenly there are more queer or gender diverse people," Adrian says.

Jay, 18, says he's grown up in an environment "with a lot more acceptance".

"I think TV shows, and being able to just see it to know that it exists."

Devon reckons there's more awareness.

"There are more people who are aware that they're queer and aware that they can be outwardly queer because there is so much more representation," she says.

"And the fact that you can see other people openly queer and gay, makes it feel like it's an OK thing for you to be, and it makes it feel like your identity is a real thing and it's valid and tangible."

Equality Australia chief executive Anna Brown says past government policies have had a lot to do with the way older generations identify.

"They've lived most of their lives with the threat of being prosecuted simply because of who they are, who they love," she says.

"So we're talking about a long history of criminalisation and the shame and stigma that comes with that."

Fast forward to marriage equality.

"This was a defining moment for our movement, for our communities," Anna says.

"It was a time when we had millions of allies stand up for us in a way that we've never seen before in Australia's history.

"There's no question that that moment was a nation-defining moment for Australia and also the social change that came with that."

'Increasing number of role models'

Television studies researcher Damien O'Meara says we're seeing more queer representation in the media.

"What we know from research is not only does seeing yourself as a queer person on screen help you materialise your identity, help you feel more connected, help support your mental health as you develop your identity, seeing queer people on screen helps broader communities understand us and are more likely to accept us if they're exposed to us," he says.

"The increasing number of role models means that young people feel more comfortable with coming out," Anna says.

"Be it celebrities or artists coming out as trans or non-binary, people like Elliot Page."

Damien says representation on screen has changed — a lot.

"When I was growing up in the 90s [we were seen as] sad, lonely, we were victims, we were, as a community, having this homogenous, very tragic experience that wasn't universally true," he says.

"Now we get really diverse stories of who we are, and so there is greater opportunity for broader society to understand who we are and to understand how our communities work.

"They see Ru Paul's drag race. They learn about queer history. But they also see something like Heartstopper."

Jay says he feels connected with the movie I Saw the TV Glow.

"It feels like one of the first movies that was made for trans people, not so much to educate other people, like cisgender people, but to show the experience through the art form of film."

"Also, Heartbreak High has been incredible."

There's music too.

"I listen to a lot of music by queer creators, Chappell Roan, Reneé Rapp," Devon says.

"The person who made me comfortable with my sexuality, and probably many others, is Lady Gaga," Charlie says.

Adrian says: "We're seeing LGBTQIA+ people thrive in context and settings that we haven't seen before."

"I think of Darcy Vescio, who's a phenomenal non-binary AFLW player.

"You have that ability to think, growing up, I didn't think sport was going to be inclusive for me … But now we're starting to see, oh, maybe I really can."

Adrian says the internet has given young people better access to information about gender and sexuality.

"That can seem really polarising, but once you're familiar, you understand that, hey, I see myself in this."

Charlie says the internet can be a safe place for acceptance for young LGBTQIA+ people "if they don't have a safe place at home and or at school".

'Where do I go with all of this?'

So far so positive, but LGBTQIA+ young people still face real problems.

That YouthSense survey we mentioned earlier found 23 per cent of young LGBTQIA+ people have experienced discrimination and 49 per cent said they'd had a negative experience at school.

And Jay says for a lot of trans people, finding the right healthcare is difficult.

"In Adelaide, the waiting list for any sort of hormone therapy is about three years," he says.

"It is life-saving for so many people.

"I have friends who have said they can't imagine still being here if they didn't get that treatment [before they turned 18].

While the information is there, Devon says: "As a kid, you're like, where do I go with all of this? Like, I'm gay? Now what? Having those spaces to be able to express yourself and connect with other young queer people is so important."

Charlie's advice for anyone struggling to understand their identity: "You're not alone. I will say that everyone's been through it. Don't think that you're not natural or you're not normal for what you're feeling."

"It's OK to question. It's OK to take your time," Jay says.

"You will grow up and it will come to you."

"I think the biggest thing to remember is there's nothing wrong with any of it," Devon says.

"It's all you, and it's going to be you regardless of what the world around you says."