The number of teenage girls identifying as lesbian or bisexual has decreased significantly in recent years, according to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The data, which was highlighted by a recent report, shows that the share of ninth-grade girls identifying as lesbian or bisexual dropped from 30% in 2021 to 17% in 2025. Additionally, the percentage of girls identifying as bisexual alone fell by half, from 26% to 13%.
In contrast, the percentage of boys identifying as gay or bisexual has remained relatively stable over the past decade. The share of high school girls identifying as lesbian or bisexual surged following the COVID-19 pandemic before beginning to decline. However, rates among older teenage girls have remained relatively steady and are still higher than before the pandemic.
Researchers are struggling to understand the reasons behind this decline, with some pointing to the possibility that it may be related to a change in how young Americans describe their sexual orientation. Jean Twenge, a professor of psychology at San Diego State University, noted that the downward trend began while former President Joe Biden was still in office, casting doubt on whether the shift could be attributed to a change in presidential administrations.
Some have suggested that the decline may be linked to the reduction in funding for certain government agencies, such as the Department of Education and USAID. However, the available data does not provide a clear explanation for why this trend affects certain age groups differently.
NTC Report coverage is based on reporting from the original publisher.
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