October 11 is National Coming Out Day, which commemorates the first and second marches on Washington for LGBTQ+ rights in 1979 and 1987. Also of note, June is LGBTQ+ Pride Month, which commemorates the Stonewall Riots.
In a March 6, 1975, letter, Air Force Sergeant Leonard Matlovich became the first service member to out himself to challenge the military's ban of homosexuals. At the time, the U.S. military was discharging 1,000 service members a year for homosexuality or suspected homosexuality. Matlovich—a conservative Republican boasting a Purple Heart and Bronze Star—was seen as the perfect candidate to sue the military. When he appeared on the cover of the Sep. 8, 1975, issue of TIME, it was the first time an openly gay person appeared on the cover of a U.S. news magazine. LGBTQ+ individuals have been able to openly serve in the military since 2011.
According to Gallup, as of 2023, 7.2% of U.S. adults identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or non-binary, a figure that has doubled since 2012. This is echoed by Pew Research Center’s data from 2022 at 7%, with higher percentages among younger adults, specifically, 17% of adults under 30. The LGBTQ+ community’s purchasing power is also substantial. In 2021, LGBTQ+ spending power in the U.S. was estimated to exceed $1.4 trillion. The 2024 ANA’s LGBTQ+ Marketing Inclusion Report revealed that only 34 percent of advertisers who engage in inclusive marketing utilize LGBTQ+-targeted media. By contrast, the ANA/AIMM’s Diverse Media Accelerator Study shows that investment in minority-owned/targeted media yields a 17-point lift in purchase intent among LGBTQ consumers. This presents a significant opportunity for brands to authentically connect with the LGBTQ+ community and amplify their message.
The Point Foundation is the largest scholarship-granting nonprofit for deserving LGBTQ+ students studying in the United States. The foundation is currently supporting 552 students this year! Their work is crucial, as nearly one-third of LGBTQ+ high-school students end up dropping out because of the harassment and isolation they face. In addition to scholarships, the Point Foundation also matches students with mentors, as well as providing internship opportunities, leadership development training, and a network to fall back on. Learn more here: https://pointfoundation.org/