Recently, GLAAD released findings from their annual Accelerating Acceptance study. In full, the nationwide survey highlighted pain points, lingering stereotypes, and daily prejudices queer people face, but the biggest takeaways were undoubtedly positive.
“The most important finding of our 2023 study is that support for LGBTQ equal rights is at an all-time high: 84% of survey respondents support equal rights for the LGBTQ community,” said Sarah Kate Ellis, president and CEO of GLAAD.
GLAAD’s Spirit Day Index also surveyed Americans based on their support for LGBTQ+ youth.
The majority of survey respondents believed celebrities, sports leagues, and businesses could have a positive impact on LGBTQ+ youth, but over half agreed that “everyday people” are the most influential impact group on young people who identify as queer.
In the same survey, 7 in 10 Americans aspired to be better allies to the LGBTQ+ community.
Overall, Ellis feels hope when she looks over the data GLAAD has gathered — and recognizes that society is slowly moving the needle forward when it comes to equity, diversity, and inclusion.
“The hopeful news is that we have decades of work to show that fair and accurate journalism, visibility in media, and corporate responsibility all have an enormous role to play,” said Ellis. “When people are exposed to responsible representations of LGBTQ people, hearts and minds can change.”
A version of this article originally appeared in the 2024 Pride Edition of the Goodnewspaper
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Header image via Ronê Ferreira
