LGBTQ+ progress holds steady although cracks emerge in global support, reveals Ipsos' Pride report

While support for certain LGBTQ+ rights has declined since 2021, large majorities across the globe continue to endorse equality, legal recognition, and anti-discrimination protections, particularly in employment and housing, reveals the latest Ipsos LGBT+ Pride Report 2025. The survey, conducted across 26 countries, finds that public backing has weakened on issues ranging from transgender athletes to Pride Month marketing campaigns.

Support for anti-discrimination protections

The majorities worldwide still support anti-discrimination protections, reveals the survey. On average across 23 countries, 72% say people who identify as LGB should be protected from discrimination in employment, housing, and access to services – down 5 percentage points from 2021. The same proportion (71%) say the same about transgender people, also reflecting a 5-point dip.

However, when it comes to backing actual anti-discrimination laws, support slips further. Just 51% of respondents globally say they support legislation banning discrimination against LGBTQ+ people in areas such as education, housing, and social services – a 6-point decline since 2021.

Support for same-sex relationships

Support for same-sex marriage or legal recognition now sits at 69%, down from 74% in 2021, according to the survey. The decline is uneven across countries. For example:

• Peru saw the steepest drop, with only 48% in favor (down 20 points).
• France, meanwhile, showed an increase to 67% (+5 points).

When it comes to same-sex couples having equal rights to adopt children, global support has fallen from 64% in 2021 to 59% in 2025. Notably, Türkiye dropped 14 points to just 25%, while Germany rose 5 points to 74%.

Views on workplace inclusion

Around 38% now support LGBTQ+ workplace initiatives (asked for the first time across 26 countries), while 24% oppose them, notes the survey.

However, support for companies and brands that actively promote LGBTQ+ equality has continued to decline – from 49% in 2021 to 44% in 2024, and now down to 41% in 2025. Opposition stands at 23%, while over a third (36%) say they neither support nor oppose such campaigns.

This retreat has led some businesses – especially in Western markets – to scale back or quietly drop Pride-related initiatives amid political and consumer pressure.

Gen Z support

One consistent trend remains: Generation Z women are among the strongest supporters of LGBTQ+ rights, particularly when compared to their male counterparts.

• 58% of Gen Z women support companies promoting LGBTQ+ equality, compared to just 34% of Gen Z men.
• When it comes to workplace programs or policies celebrating LGBTQ+ employees, 53% of Gen Z women support them, versus 29% of Gen Z men.

This pattern of divergence – also seen in the Ipsos Generations Report 2025 – extends to other social issues including gender equality and climate action.

Reality behind the “wokelash” narrative

While some headlines claim a global revolt against DEI and inclusion, the numbers suggest a more complicated picture. Men across generations are more likely than women to strongly oppose LGBTQ+ brand activism. For example:

• 17% of Gen X men, 16% of Gen Z men, and 15% of Millennial men express strong opposition.
• In contrast, only 10% of Millennial women, 9% of Gen X and Boomer women, and 7% of Gen Z women feel the same.

That said, the overall proportion of strong opponents remains relatively small in all groups, suggesting discontent exists, but is not yet dominant.

Trans rights

Trans rights have seen notable declines, confirms the survey. Support for transgender athletes competing according to gender identity is now just 22% – a sharp 10-point drop since 2021.

In the U.S., support for gender-neutral options on government-issued documents (like passports) stands at 38%, down 3 points from 2024. Globally, support has declined 6 points to 46%, while opposition stands at 40%.

In line with these shifts, the Trump administration recently announced new passport guidelines that only allow "M" or "F" markers matching biological sex at birth, a policy already facing legal and activist challenges.

Whether global attitudes toward LGBTQ+ rights are experiencing a temporary plateau or a longer-term reversal is still uncertain. The survey reveals that the momentum of the last decade has slowed, and in some cases reversed.

Yet the majorities still favor fundamental protection, with younger women leading the way on inclusion, noted the report. You can download the full report here.