A new study carried out by The Office for National Statistics in Britain says that only 1 in 100 people describe themselves as gay. The dubious percentage was arrived at by a flawed canvassing process and polling difficulties, the Telegraph reports:
“In the survey, some people failed to understand the question and gave answers including ‘female', ‘normal', ‘not active' and ‘I am OK with my sexuality'. Some interviewers declined to ask the question for fear of giving offence. The Office for National Statistics, which carried out the poll of 4,000 people, admitted that its results were ‘not a reliable estimate' of the homosexual population.”
The operative now and in the future, however, appears to be, don't ask, don't tell: “[The ONS] said it would use the findings to develop a more accurate way of measuring. Ministers intend to introduce an annual count once the survey method has been improved. They say they need the information to plan public service provision more accurately. However, the question will not be asked in the next census in 2011, for fear that it might deter some people from returning their forms.”
Just one in 100 tells researchers: I'm gay [telegraph]
