For LGBTQ+ singles, dating in 2025 comes with more than just the usual nerves, it carries the weight of politics. A new survey from the Kinsey Institute and DatingNews.com finds that one in four queer singles are rethinking how and where they date in response to the nation’s shifting political landscape.
Politics and Pride
Pride has long mixed celebration with activism, and this year is no different. With anti-LGBTQ+ legislation increasing across the U.S., many queer singles report feeling cautious about openly dating, adding anxiety to a space that should feel liberating.
“These findings show that politics are shaping the dating lives of LGBTQ+ adults, especially the youngest adults who are encountering these pressures firsthand,” said Dr. Justin Lehmiller, Senior Research Fellow at the Kinsey Institute.
Gen Z Bears the Brunt
The survey highlights a sharp generational divide. About 42% of LGBTQ+ adults ages 18 to 24 say the political climate has changed the way they date, compared with only 5% of adults 65 and older. Lehmiller notes that older LGBTQ+ adults may have built resilience from decades of navigating political hostility, while younger people are still finding their footing.
Moving to Find Acceptance
Politics are not just reshaping dating behaviors, they’re influencing where queer singles choose to live. Roughly one in five Gen Z respondents reported relocating to LGBTQ-friendly neighborhoods to feel safer and more accepted.
“For young adults, moving can be easier professionally and personally,” said Lehmiller. “It may also reflect that they haven’t yet built a strong local support network.”
Some singles are staying put but adjusting their digital lives. Eighteen percent of respondents said they take extra precautions to protect their identity on dating apps, rising to 25% among the youngest adults.
The Emotional Impact
Fear and safety concerns are taking a toll. More than a third of LGBTQ+ adults report discomfort being open about their identity while dating, and nearly half of Gen Z respondents say the same. Even LGBTQ+ safe spaces feel less secure for some, 10% said they are now less comfortable visiting queer bars and clubs.
Dating in 2025 requires balancing desire and caution. For many LGBTQ+ singles, finding love means navigating a landscape shaped as much by politics as by chemistry.
About the Study
The Kinsey Institute and DatingNews.com surveyed 2,000 single adults nationwide from April 29 to May 8, 2025, with 15% identifying as LGBTQ+. The study was led by Drs. Justin Lehmiller and Amanda Gesselman and provides a representative look at how politics are influencing modern queer dating.
