+10 votes
in General Factchecking by Apprentice (1.1k points)
This article claims that about 1 in 4 high school students identifies as LGBTQ. Is this article accurate or under/overstating the real number?

16 Answers

+2 votes
by Apprentice (1.1k points)
This is true as the article is referring to a CDC study. These are 2021 results so it could be a different rate now and different studies may show different results.

https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/data/yrbs/supplemental-mmwr/students_by_sexual_identity.htm
True
by Genius (41.9k points)
Nice job being concise. It's also great to add a bit more substance to your fact-check as proof or evidence to support it. So quotes, data, or anything else that substantiates your rating (re: true) would be valuable.
+1 vote
by Apprentice (1.1k points)

This is true according to data from the CDC received through surveys in 2021 from high schools across the United States. 74.2% of all students identified as heterosexual, which leaves 25.8% identifying as LGBTQ+. The percentage of LGBTQ+ students is higher among females where 38.4% identify as LGBTQ+, whereas for males it is much lower at 12.7%. 

https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/data/yrbs/supplemental-mmwr/students_by_sexual_identity.htm

True
0 votes
by Legend (6.2k points)

This is correct. As stated by the CDC in a 2021 survey, out of the total high schoolers surveyed across the nation (16,271) only 12,421 stated they were straight/heterosexual, equating to roughly 75% (74.2%). Meanwhile, the amount of students identify as gay/lesbian were 520 (3.2%), 1,848 (11.9%) students identifying as bisexual, and 1,482 (9%) students identifying as other. It is here we can see that a rough sum of 25% of high school students (1 in 4) consider themselves to be apart of the LGBTQ+ community based on the sum of identifying students on this survey conducted by the CDC. Please note this is excluding the surveyors who did not understand the question.

True
+1 vote
by Apprentice (1.0k points)
This is true. According to a CDC study taken in 2021, 1 in 4 students does indeed identify as LGBTQ. 74.2% identify as straight; 3.2% identify as gay or lesbian; 11.9% identify as bisexual; and 9.0% are either other or questioning. However, this may be true/factual, there is no way of providing an accurate number unless an experiment or interview with students was taken.

https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/data/yrbs/supplemental-mmwr/students_by_sexual_identity.htm
by Genius (41.9k points)
Why do you think the data isn't accurate? You mention that it may be true/factual -- why do you not feel convinced of the data as it stands?
+1 vote
by Newbie (380 points)

So 1 in 4 is actually spot. In 2021, the Center for Disease Control estimated that roughly 74.2 percent of teens (87.3% of males, 61.6% of females) identified as heterosexual. 3.2% of teens identified as gay or lesbain, 11.9% identified as bisexual, and 9% identified as other/questioning.

https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/data/yrbs/supplemental-mmwr/students_by_sexual_identity.htm   

+1 vote
by Apprentice (1.7k points)

This is a true claim, as can be proven in an article by The Hill when the article writer states that about 1/4 of students self-identify as LGBTQ. I believe this source provides credibility to the argument as it gives a visual representation of the orientations of students in an easy-to-understand fashion. I have put the link below for reference.

https://thehill.com/homenews/education/3975959-one-in-four-high-school-students-identify-as-lgbtq/

True

Community Rules


Be respectful.

There is bound to be disagreement on a site about misinformation. Assume best intentions on everyone's part.

If you are new to factchecking, take some time to learn about it. "How to Factcheck" has some resources for getting started. Even if you disagree with these materials, they'll help you understand the language of this community better.

News Detective is for uncovering misinformation and rumors. This is not a general interest question-answer site for things someone could Google.

Posting

The title is the "main claim" that you're trying to factcheck.

Example:
Factcheck This: Birds don't exist

If possible, LINK TO to the place you saw the claim.

Answering

LINK TO YOUR EVIDENCE or otherwise explain the source ("I called this person, I found it in this book, etc.")

But don't just drop a link. Give an explanation, copy and paste the relevant information, etc.

News Detective is not responsible for anything anyone posts on the platform.
...