Whitehall Researchers Try to Estimate Homosexual Population in Britain

Filed Under Research, WTF? | January 26th, 2008 

…And come up almost empty…

The Office for National Statistics in Britain spent two years considering the precise wording of the sexuality question, which was asked as part of a larger survey about lifestyle. In the end, they asked it in two different ways, each bringing different results. The article doesn’t say what the specific questions where.

The highlights:

- One in 100 Britons would describe themselves as gay.

- One in 100 would call themselves bisexual.

- Both groups are outnumbered by those who say they are unwilling to discuss their private life.

- Some people failed to understand the question and gave answers including “female”, “normal”, “not active” and “I am OK with my sexuality”.

Ful story: Just one in 100 tells researchers: I’m gay