Shoppers of headlines have noticed a striking claim , that most lesbian, gay and bisexual people don’t want to be grouped under LGBTQ+ or called “queer”. A closer look shows the figures come from a survey of LGB Alliance supporters, not the population at large, and that sample choices shape the story and its limits.

Essential Takeaways

  • Sample matter: the survey contacted newsletter subscribers, event attendees and donors to LGB Alliance, so respondents were already connected to the group.
  • Response numbers: 2,133 people replied, but only 1,709 passed screening as both supporters and identifying as LGB.
  • Headline figures: among that filtered sample, 94% reported discomfort with being labelled under the LGBTQ+ umbrella and 87% with the term “queer.”
  • Tone of replies: free-text answers showed frustration and identity-protective sentiment, some explicitly distancing LGB from trans and Q+ identities.
  • Public reaction: social media users criticised the survey’s framing and the omission of the membership-based sample in the X post promoting results.

What the numbers actually come from , and why that matters

The striking percentages in the post aren’t from a random cross-section of lesbian, gay and bisexual people, they come from people who already have a relationship with the LGB Alliance. That’s a big contextual detail to keep front of mind when you read the headlines; a supporter base is likely to share the organisation’s priorities, and that affects outcomes and tone. Think of it like asking members of a cycling club whether they prefer cycling lanes , useful, but not a population-wide verdict.

How the survey was run and the screening that followed

The charity sent the survey to 7,021 people who had subscribed, attended events or donated, and received 2,133 responses. Two screening questions then narrowed the sample to 1,709 people who both identified as LGB and expressed support. That screening step explains why the percentages are so high , respondents had to pass filters tied to support for the group. If you’re judging how widely a finding applies, always check whether respondents were self-selected or pre-filtered.

What respondents actually wrote , voices behind the stats

Alongside tick-box answers, the survey collected open comments that add texture: some respondents said the umbrella “subsumes” LGB struggles and that policy focus has shifted, while others expressed more hostile views about queer and trans identities. These verbatim responses show why the survey is politically useful for the group , they supply vivid quotes that match its message. But quotes from supporters don’t equate to evidence of a majority feeling the same across all LGB people.

Why critics say the promotion was misleading

On X, critics pointed out the LGB Alliance’s promotional post omitted the fact that the sample was supporters only. That omission matters because context changes how a claim reads: a finding about members of an organisation isn’t the same as a claim about an entire community. Social media users and commentators framed the survey as a closed-circuit exercise, arguing it confirms the organisation’s views rather than measuring broad public opinion.

How to interpret results like this going forward

When you see big percentages in advocacy research, ask three quick questions: who was invited to take the survey; who was included after screening; and what were the exact questions? Those steps help you judge whether the result reflects a movement’s base or a wider trend. For anyone trying to understand intra-community debate, cross-checked, representative polling is a safer guide than membership surveys.

It's a small difference in sourcing that changes a sweeping headline into a more precise, and much less surprising, finding.

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