HISTORY
Did you know?
During the 2020 elections – and for the first time in US history – the share of voters who identified as LGBTQ rivaled that of other minority communities, influencing who won and lost tight races. (Had LGBT voters stayed home, Trump might have won the 2020 presidential election – Washington Post, 12/01/2020)
In November 2020:
- A larger share of voters identified as LGBTQ than in any previous election, in which they made up roughly 7-8% nationally of all votes cast according to exit pollsters. Up until 2018, the proportion of the electorate identifying as LGBTQ ranged from 3%-5%. (Statistics are from two major election surveys: National Exit Poll conducted by Edison and AP VoteCast.) Gallup found that 8.2% of millennials (those 35 and under) identify as LGBTQ, while only 2.4% of baby boomers (those over 55) do.
- LGBTQ voters overwhelmingly supported Biden, but more supported Trump than did in 2016. AP VoteCast reported that 73% of LGBTQ voters favored Biden and 25% supported Trump.
- LGBTQ voters likely made a significant difference in battleground states. In a year that saw a number of states and congressional seats decided by very small percentages, any one group could claim to have played a pivotal role in outcome, but the fact is that the LGBTQ community is now solidly one of them, and that is likely to continue in future elections. The following highlights key state by state data from the AP VoteCast exit polls:
- Georgia: LGBTQ-identifying voters made up 9% of the electorate in Georgia in November 2020 – and voted 90%-7% for Biden or over Trump. (Biden won the state 49.5%-49.3%.)
- Arizona: LGBTQ-identifying voters made up 8% of the electorate and they voted 89%-3% in favor of Biden. (Biden won the state 49.4%-49.1%.)
- Nevada: LGBTQ-identifying voters made up 9% of the electorate and they voted 73%-22% in favor of Biden. (Biden won the stat 50.1%-47.7%.)
- Pennsylvania: LGBTQ-identifying voters made up 6% of the electorate and they voted 73%-19% in favor of Biden. (Biden won the state 50.0%-48.8%.)
- Wisconsin: LGBTQ-identifying voters made up 5% of the electorate and they voted 70%-29% in favor of Biden. (Biden won the state 49.6%-48.9%.)
- More than 1,000 LGBTQ persons ran for federal, state, and local offices this past election cycle – the most in U.S. history. Nine openly LGBTQ candidates won their races for the U.S.House – again, the most in U.S. history. The incoming Congress will includethe largest and the most diverse class of LGBTQ Members ever elected – with four LGBTQ persons of color.
- A number of LGBTQ Congressional candidates faced homophobic and transphobic attacks throughout their campaigns. The most aggressive attacks were directed against Gina Ortiz Jones (TX-23) and Jon Hoadley (MI-06), including millions of dollars in anti-LGBTQ TV ads.
- The number of persons openly identifying as LGBTQ is steadily growing, which means LGBTQ voters are positioned to play a significant role in determining future elections. In 2019, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that 16% of male high school students and 22% of female high school students self-identified as LGBTQ.
