Gen Z Turning Against 'Gay Acceptance'

Younger Americans see progressive values as an 'aggressive and demanding cultural regime'

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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A recent New York Times opinion piece laments that 'Americans Are Turning Against Gay People,' warning of a supposed slide back into the moral dark ages. But this interpretation misunderstands the spirit of the age, especially among Generation Z, where the shift reflects a resistance to an aggressive and demanding cultural regime. Young Americans, particularly young men, are rejecting progressive dogma and embracing traditional religion and radical politics as a reaction to feeling marginalized by diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.

Why it matters

This shift in attitudes among younger Americans could radically reshape politics and culture in the years ahead, as Gen Z rejects the progressive values that have dominated institutions like media, academia, and corporate America for decades. The data suggests a growing divide between younger and older generations on issues like LGBTQ+ rights and nondiscrimination laws.

The details

According to psychologists Dr. Tessa E.S. Charlesworth and Dr. Eli J. Finkel, 'anti-gay bias plummeted' from 2007 to 2020, but has 'sharply reversed since then,' especially among those under 25. This shift is attributed to a backlash against the 'Obama-era progressive slop' and the institutions that pushed 'gay acceptance' while also locking young people out of school during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many young men in particular are turning to traditional religion or radical politics as a rejection of the cultural dominance of progressive values in media, academia, and the workplace.

  • In 2024, a nationwide survey found that 'eight in ten respondents now say they approve of gay, lesbian, or bisexual individuals living their lives as they wish'.
  • A 2024 survey by the Public Religion Research Institute suggested that support for LGBTQ+ nondiscrimination laws and same-sex marriage among 18 to 29-year-olds has steadily declined over the past decade, down from early-2020s highs and continuing to drift lower.

The players

Dr. Tessa E.S. Charlesworth

A psychologist whose research on Americans' implicit and explicit biases against gays and other minority groups found that 'anti-gay bias plummeted' from 2007 to 2020 but has 'sharply reversed since then'.

Dr. Eli J. Finkel

A psychologist whose research on Americans' implicit and explicit biases against gays and other minority groups found that 'anti-gay bias plummeted' from 2007 to 2020 but has 'sharply reversed since then'.

Nick Fuentes

A radical right-wing political commentator who has lionized Adolf Hitler and his 'aura'.

Hasan Piker

A left-wing political streamer who has praised Mao Zedong.

Jacob Savage

The author of a poignant essay in Compact magazine that underscores how diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts have led to a 'profound shift in how power and prestige were distributed' away from white male millennials.

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What they’re saying

“Across every US state and demographic group, anti-gay bias plummeted from 2007 to 2020. Forecasting models suggested anti-gay bias could hit zero as early as 2022.”

— Dr. Tessa E.S. Charlesworth, Psychologist (New York Times)

“Unfortunately, the decades-long rise in the acceptance of gay people in the United States peaked around 2020 and has sharply reversed since then.”

— Dr. Eli J. Finkel, Psychologist (New York Times)

The takeaway

This shift in attitudes among younger Americans, particularly young men, reflects a broader rejection of the progressive values that have dominated institutions like media, academia, and corporate America for decades. As Gen Z embraces traditional religion and radical politics as a reaction to feeling marginalized, it could lead to a profound reshaping of the country's cultural and political landscape in the years ahead.