1994 - Edward O. Laumann’s book, The Social Organization of Sex: Sexual Practices in the United States, was published. It has since become the most accepted study on the incidence of homosexuality in the U.S. population. The National Health and Social Life Survey (NHSLS) found that 2.8% of the male and 1.4% of the female population identified themselves as homosexual, lesbian, or bisexual.
10/08/2002 – A Gallup Poll reported that Americans estimated 21% of men were homosexuals and 22% of women were lesbians.
10/18/2012 – A Gallup Poll, the largest of its kind on record (more than 121,000 adults surveyed) revealed that only 3.4% of American adults publicly identified themselves as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender, with the highest percentage coming among the younger, less-educated non-whites. The percentage of self-reported LGBTQ Americans was much smaller than the general impression derived from their presence in popular culture and their perceived influence in liberal American politics.
And the political leaning of those in the organizations doing the polling/surveying?
Thanks for the clarification. Even smaller than I suspected. Shows what a small, vocal minority can do with the right media support.