Support for LGBTQ+ issues in the U.S. has seen a decline after two decades of increasing acceptance. According to Gallup's annual Values and Beliefs survey conducted from May 1-17, 2026, approval for legal same-sex marriage stands at 65%, down six percentage points from the peak in 2022 and 2023. The percentage of Americans viewing gay or lesbian relations as morally acceptable is currently at 62%, the lowest since 2016. Additionally, acceptance of changing one's gender has decreased by eight points since 2021, now at 38%.
Between 1996 and 2022, support for legalizing same-sex marriage rose from 27% to 71%, but it has since dipped to 69% in 2024 and has shown a marginal decline each year. In 2001, 40% of respondents found same-sex relations morally acceptable, which increased to 71% by 2022, but has since dropped to 64%.
The decline in support is particularly pronounced among Republicans, with approval for same-sex marriage falling from 55% in 2021 and 2022 to 37% today. Support among independents has decreased by six points to 67%, while Democratic support remains steady at 87%. The perception of the morality of gay or lesbian relations among Republicans has also decreased by 21 points since 2022, now at 35%. In contrast, acceptance among independents and Democrats has remained relatively stable. Currently, 5% of Republicans view changing one's gender as morally acceptable, compared to 42% of independents and 60% of Democrats, indicating a significant decline in Republican acceptance since 2021.
Overall, while there was a trend of increasing acceptance of LGBTQ+ rights over the past two decades, recent shifts indicate a plateau and decline, particularly influenced by Republican attitudes amid broader political discussions on diversity and inclusion.
