Millions of closeted gay men

last updated 8 January 2015

Seth Stephens-Davidowitz

The New York Times

“What percent of American men are gay?” asked Seth Stephens-Davidowitz. Estimates have ranged from 2 percent to 10 percent. So I recently conducted my own study, based on a combination of surveys, social network activity, online porn searches, and dating sites. My conclusion: About 5 percent of American men are primarily attracted to other men—and in states where homosexuality still carries a major stigma, a large number of them are closeted and/or married to women. In these “less tolerant areas,” fewer high school students and men identify themselves on social media or to pollsters as gay. But in all states, 5 percent of online porn searches involve gay, male themes—indicating that “there are just about as many gay men in less tolerant states as there are anywhere else.” These gay men just live a lie—and so do their wives. Of all Google searches by married women that begin, “Is my husband...,” the most common word to follow is “gay.” That question is 10 times more common than “cheating,” and it’s most frequently asked in South Carolina, Louisiana, and other socially conservative states. Even in 2013, the closet remains full.