Man who lived as woman for eight years warns surprising teen sexuality data may not tell full story

Teenagers’ Sexual‑Identity Numbers May Be Skewed by Peer and Social‑Media Pressures, Expert Says

A former transgender man and senior fellow at the Family Research Council, Walt Heyer, has publicly questioned recent reports that suggest a sharp drop in the number of American teens who identify as gay or bisexual. In a video interview with Fox News Digital, Heyer cautioned that social media influence and peer pressure could be making adolescents reluctant to label themselves openly, thereby distorting the data.

Heyer, who detransitioned roughly four decades ago after living as a woman for eight years, has written several books on gender identity, including Trans Life Survivors and Paper Genders. His experience working with people who question or change their gender identities gives him a particular perspective on how external factors can shape self‑identification.

The debate comes after a Washington Post article that highlighted Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data showing a decline in the proportion of ninth‑grade girls who describe themselves as lesbian or bisexual. According to the CDC, the share of girls identifying as lesbian or bisexual dropped from 30 % in 2021 to 17 % in 2025, while those identifying as bisexual alone fell from 26 % to 13 % during the same period. In contrast, the percentage of boys who identify as gay or bisexual has remained largely stable over the past decade, and the spike in self‑identification among high‑school girls that followed the COVID‑19 pandemic has begun to recede.

“I don’t really believe that there’s a big dramatic free fall,” Heyer said, referring to the reports of a sudden decline. “I think what’s happening is that, because of social media, there’s a lot more influence on people who may not want to fall into that classification on a social‑media level and will withhold the fact that they’re gay or bisexual but really don’t want to openly admit it.”

He pointed out that the language used by teens can be shaped by what peers and online communities deem acceptable. “I’ve had actual people in school saying that they’re bullied into identifying one way, or they’re bullying and bullied to not identify that way,” Heyer explained. “What’s interesting about that is that many kids are sort of coerced by their peers to say things one way or the other, so I’ve been very skeptical about what the kids are saying, whether they’re gay or bisexual.”

The expert also warned that adults—including parents, teachers, and researchers—should be careful not to over‑interpret the numbers without considering these contextual factors. “I just think it’s important for us to be much more thorough and go to other areas before we come to some conclusion that there’s a giant, giant drop in these identities,” he added. “I don’t think we’re there yet.”

Heyer’s skepticism is rooted in both his personal history and his work in gender advocacy. In an interview, he noted that he had undergone hormone therapy and surgical procedures before deciding to live as a man again. “I went through the hormones, had all the surgeries, identified that way. So far in all world history, nobody has actually biologically changed their gender. This is a cosmetic social appearance. It is not a biological change,” he said. He argued that adults must strive to affirm what is “true” and avoid imposing labels that may not reflect an individual’s inherent identity.

The family‑rights organization where Heyer serves as a senior fellow has long maintained a cautious stance on gender‑affirming care for minors, emphasizing the need for thorough evaluation before any irreversible medical treatment. He added that the broader societal conversation about gender and sexuality can influence how young people feel they can safely express themselves.

While the CDC data paint a picture of a rapid change in sexual‑identity self‑reporting, experts like Heyer suggest that more nuanced research is needed. Longitudinal studies that track teens over time, qualitative interviews that probe the motivations behind identity labels, and assessments of the role of digital platforms could help clarify whether the apparent decline reflects a genuine shift or a masking of identities due to social pressures.

The conversation also echoes a broader debate about how cultural narratives shape self‑identification. “When you come to that conclusion, you realize that really the procedures and these terminologies and labels, what I refer to as God rejecting labels, God rejecting procedures in every aspect,” Heyer said. “This is the way young people and adults reject God and say God doesn’t exist by taking these labels on.”

As the nation continues to grapple with questions about sexual orientation, gender identity, and the influence of social media, the need for careful, evidence‑based analysis remains clear. For now, experts like Walt Heyer urge caution before proclaiming a definitive decline in youth identifying as gay or bisexual, reminding policymakers and the public alike that numbers alone may not tell the whole story.