It was Pride weekend in Woodstock and there is nothing more joyful than driving through town with rainbow flags flying everywhere. While the Trump administration declared June is “no longer Pride month” and the Republican party has waged war on the LGBTQ+ community, the majority of Americans still support same-sex relationships and marriage (despite headlines this week that might try to convince you otherwise). The only group where support has declined in the last two years is Republicans, do with that what you will.

I took a look at the actual survey data which was based on a random sampling of 1,024 adults age 18+ living in all 50 US states and the District of Columbia. I’m not saying the data is wrong, it would make sense that people who identity with a party of racists and bigots might not support same-sex couples, but there was something interesting in the results.

Of respondents ages 18-35, the overwhelming majority support same-sex couples and same-sex marriage (followed by the majority of women) . Gen Z is also the most likely generation to identify as LGBT+. Opposition to same-sex relationships isn’t distributed equally across demographics, it’s concentrated among older (and more conservative) demographics. And while this probably doesn’t sound particularly shocking, it’s a reminder that support for LGBTQ+ rights will only continue to grow over time. I’ve witnessed it change dramatically during my lifetime, and I’m only 41.

As a millennial, I see my generation raising children who are more inclusive, empathetic, and open-minded than we were. The future will be shaped by people who view equality and acceptance not as controversial but as the norm. That's a future I'm genuinely excited to see.

Happy Pride Month! 😘