The Aporia
Fox News. (2026, October 13). Ninth-graders abandoning queer labels at dramatic rate, stumping researchers. New York Post. https://nypost.com/2026/10/12/lifestyle/teen-girls-identifying-as-lesbian-or-bisexual-plummet-in-stunning-reversal-new-data-shows/
Fox News. “Ninth-graders abandoning queer labels at dramatic rate, stumping researchers.” New York Post, 13 Oct. 2026, https://nypost.com/2026/10/12/lifestyle/teen-girls-identifying-as-lesbian-or-bisexual-plummet-in-stunning-reversal-new-data-shows/.
Fox News. “Ninth-graders abandoning queer labels at dramatic rate, stumping researchers.” New York Post, October 13, 2026. https://nypost.com/2026/10/12/lifestyle/teen-girls-identifying-as-lesbian-or-bisexual-plummet-in-stunning-reversal-new-data-shows/.
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The number of ninth-grade girls identifying as lesbian or bisexual has sharply declined from 30% in 2021 to just 17% in 2025, according to data highlighted by The Washington Post. Specifically, those identifying solely as bisexual dropped significantly, from 26% to 13% during the same period. This trend contrasts with boys' identification rates, which have remained relatively stable over a decade. While younger girls show this decline, older teenage girls still exhibit higher rates compared to pre-pandemic levels, suggesting a complex shift in how young Americans define their sexual orientation. Walt Heyer cautions against drawing definitive conclusions without further research, while Jean Twenge attributes the trend to factors unrelated to presidential administrations.