1 in 4 teens identify as LGBTQ, according to CDC study

DENVER (KDVR) — Fewer teens than ever are identifying as heterosexual, according to a recent study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The CDC study found one in four high school students identify as LGBTQ. Part of the reason this number could be so high is that a lot of these teens were asked for the first time if they were questioning their sexuality.

The CDC surveyed 17,508 students in 152 schools nationwide to get these figures. Those numbers show that in 2021:

• 26% identified as LGBTQ
• 12.2% identified as bisexual
• 5.2% identified as questioning
• 3.9% identified as other
• 3.2% as gay or lesbian
• 1.8% said they did not understand the question

Tara Tull, an expert with Metropolitan State University of Denver, said the numbers are surprising but can be explained.

"The one in four number is surprising, but at the same time, if you drill down into the actual data, it only shows that about 3% of youth identified as gay or le...