In 2025, love and politics are colliding for many LGBTQ+ singles. A new Kinsey Institute and DatingNews survey finds 1 in 4 are changing how they date amid the political climate. The State of Us: National Study on Modern Love & Dating in 2025 shows politics are affecting LGBTQ+ singles across demographics, however Gen Z ages 18-25 are feeling the most impact.
Among the overall sample of 302 respondents:
- 25% of LGBTQ+ singles say politics have changed how they date
- 35% of LGBTQ+ adults say they don't feel safe being open about their identity while dating
- 18% of respondents said they are taking extra measures to protect their identity and privacy in online dating
- 10% of LGBTQ+ adults say they are less comfortable visiting LGBTQ+ venues
Gen Z appear most affected:
- 44% of Gen Z adults (aged 18-24) say they don't feel safe being open about their identity while dating compared to only 5% of LGBTQ+ seniors age 65+
- 1 in 4 say they are taking extra measures to protect their identity and privacy online in online dating
- 21% have relocated to more LGBTQ-friendly areas
"These findings provide pretty clear evidence that the current political climate is having a significant impact on the way that many LGBTQ singles are approaching dating. However, the effects seem to be most acute for the youngest LGBTQ persons," said Kinsey Institute Senior Research Fellow Dr. Justin Lehmiller. "Older LGBTQ Americans appear to be a bit more resilient to the current political challenges, perhaps because they have weathered these kinds of attacks for decades and have found other ways to cope."
The DatingNews.com and Kinsey Institute State of Us: National Study on Modern Love & Dating in 2025 was led by Kinsey Institute researchers Dr. Justin Lehmiller and Dr. Amanda Gesselman, with data collected and conducted by Prodege.com among a nationally representative sample of 2,000 single U.S. adults ages 18 to 91 via an online survey from April 29, 2025, to May 8, 2025. The sample was balanced to ensure a reliable and accurate representation of the U.S. population in terms of age, gender, household income, geographic region, and race/ethnicity. Overall, 15% of the sample (302 respondents) identified as LGBTQ+.
Results of any sample are subject to sampling variation. The magnitude of the variation is measurable and is affected by the number of interviews and the level of the percentages expressing the results. For the interviews conducted in this study, the chances are 95 in 100 that a survey result does not vary, plus or minus, by more than 3 percentage points from the result that would be obtained if interviews had been conducted with all persons in the universe represented by the sample.
About the Kinsey Institute
For almost 80 years, the Kinsey Institute at Indiana University has been the global leader in research on sexuality, relationships, and well-being. The Kinsey Institute provides an unbiased, nonpartisan, and multidisciplinary approach, serving as a trusted source for evidence-based information worldwide. The Kinsey Institute's research programs are led by internationally renowned experts across disciplines including neuroscience, psychology, public health, anthropology, biology, history, and gender studies. The Kinsey Institute also houses the world's largest library of materials on human sexuality and offers a dynamic range of art exhibitions, public lectures, and continuing education programs. Visit kinseyinstitute.org to learn more and follow us on LinkedIn .
