Gays Make The Environment A Priority
NEW YORK -- As all Americans consider their environmental attitudes, a national survey released by Harris Interactive shows that lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or transgender (LGBT) adults, especially, are accelerating their personal commitment to pro-environmental issues.
A majority (55%) of all LGBT adults, when asked if they "personally care a great deal about the current state and future of the environment," say this statement describes themselves completely or very well – a description that characterizes just one-third (33%) of heterosexual American adults. When all are asked if they "encourage others to be more environmentally friendly," four out of ten (40%) LGBT adults say that statement also describes them completely or very well, while only twenty-four percent (24%) of heterosexual adults concur. The new nationwide survey of 2,352 U.S. adults (ages 18 and over), of whom 347 self-identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or transgender (LGBT), was conducted online between November 8 and November 15, 2010, by Harris Interactive, a global market research and consulting firm, in conjunction with Witeck-Combs Communications, Inc., a strategic public relations and marketing communications firm with special expertise in the LGBT market. In a year-over-year contrast, nearly half (47%) of LGBT adults, when asked about their environmental attitudes today, say that being "environmentally conscious" either describes themselves completely or very well. That new benchmark shows a marked increase from a 2009 poll that found just 38% of LGBT adults felt this described them completely or very well. In contrast, in this year's survey, 28% of heterosexual adults say that being "environmentally conscious" describes themselves completely or very well (while a similar 30% of heterosexuals applied that self-label in 2009.) As more Americans take steps to understand and protect the environment, there now appear to be widening gaps in attitudes between LGBT Americans and their heterosexual counterparts. For instance, one in three (35%) LGBT adults state that the self-label of "environmentalist" describes their identities completely or very well, when contrasted with just 15% of heterosexuals who believe this self-label fits themselves that same way. When asked specifically about voting, purchase decisions, and workplace attitudes, these gaps become more evident. Bob Witeck, CEO of Witeck-Combs Communications, noted that environmentalism seems to be growing more deeply ingrained among LGBT adults: "Trends we've witnessed over the past few years consistently highlight the awareness and commitment that LGBT people tend to show environmental practices. Across-the-board, the community gravitates towards the concept of stewardship and commitment to a 'green' future for all Americans."
