We went in-studio (!) with journalist Orion Rummler (The 19th) and Rachel Minkin (Pew Research Center, and a gay mom) to unpack Pew’s major 2025 study of LGBTQ+ Americans—released around the 10-year anniversary of Obergefell. We talk social acceptance gaps (L/G & bi vs. trans/nonbinary), how data actually moves policy, the everyday realities of queer family-building (hello, insurance barriers), chosen family, medical micro/macro-aggressions, and what comes next. Orion also shares reporting on transmasculine pregnancy; Rachel brings the numbers and her family story.
🏳️🌈 Key Takeaways
- Acceptance isn’t equal: 61% of LGBTQ adults see at least “a fair amount” of acceptance for gay/lesbian people; 52% for bisexual people; only 13–14% for transgender and nonbinary people.
- Trendlines still point up: Majorities say acceptance is higher than 10 years ago and expect more gains over the next decade—even amid political backlash.
- Policy needs data: Large, representative studies (and government data) inform public dialogue, services, and protections; rollbacks to data collection threaten visibility.
- Queer family-building is intentional—and costly: Insurance exclusions and uneven laws add hurdles; chosen family often fills the gaps.
- Economics & education: Same-sex married couples (especially male couples) show higher rates of dual full-time work and bachelor’s degrees—translating to different economic and political power.
- Healthcare matters: Trans adults report higher rates of poor treatment; everyday medical interactions still misread queer families.
- History gap: Older LGBTQ+ adults report knowing more about LGBTQ history; we’re all standing on the shoulders of giants—teach it.
🏳️🌈 About the Guest(s)🏳️🌈
Orion Rummler — Reporter at The 19th covering LGBTQ+ news at the intersection of gender, politics, and policy. Recent work includes a KFF partnership on transmasculine pregnancy in post-Roe America.
Follow: 19thnews.org | Free newsletters available
Rachel Minkin — Research Associate at Pew Research Center and gay mom. She helped lead Pew’s 2025 nationally representative study of LGBTQ+ Americans (plus qualitative interviews with same-sex parents). Read: pewresearch.org
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