Majority of Australians support anti-discrimination protections for LGBT+ people, but support slips for several LGBT+ issues

Ipsos releases the fourth edition of the Ipsos LGBT+ Pride Report.

This 26-country^* survey, which tracks how people around the world feel about a range of issues, from same-sex marriage to transgender athletes, shows that the majority in all countries support legal measures to protect lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people from discrimination. Support for same-sex couples marrying and adopting children remains strong, although is not as high as it was. 

The report also shows some interesting generational findings, particularly the gap between Gen Z men and women regarding LGBT+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) issues. In short, the global data shows that Gen Z females are leaning liberal on several LGBT+ issues, while many their younger male peers are leaning more centrist or conservative these days.

Key Australian findings

• Australians are among the most supportive around the globe when it comes to the belief that LGBT+ people should be protected from discrimination in areas like employment and housing (80% agree vs the global average of 72%). Only four other countries had higher levels of support – Ireland (84%), Sweden (83%), Thailand (82%), and Spain (81%).
• However, in Australia (59%), and across the globe (51%), there is less support for passing laws banning discrimination.
• Support for brands promoting LGBT+ rights has declined in Australia and globally. Compared to 2021, support for companies/brands actively promoting equality for LGBT+ people is down 5% to 44% in Australia and down 8% to 41% for the global average.
• There are similar levels of support in Australia (42%), and globally (38%), for employers having programs/policies that explicitly support/celebrate LGBT+ employees.
• Support for same-sex unions in Australia has increased from 2021 (up 3% to 79%), which is in stark contrast to what Ipsos saw globally (a decrease of 5% to 69%). In fact, Australia was one of only three countries to show increased support for same sex unions, Spain and France being the other two.
• In Australia, support for transgender athletes is down 6% since 2021, slightly lower than the global decrease of 10%. Only two in ten in Australia (21%) and globally (22%) are in favour of trans athletes competing based on the gender they identify with rather than the sex they were assigned at birth.
• The Australian data is reflective of the global data in terms of the gap between Gen Z men and women regarding LGBT+ issues.

Ipsos Australia Deputy Managing Director, David Elliott, said: “The findings both here in Australia and globally point to the momentum behind the ‘wokelash’ against all things LGBT+ but also show some nuance, as evidenced by the majority support for protecting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people from discrimination. Support for same-sex couples marrying and adopting children also remains strong.

“Perhaps more interesting are the gaps we see between men and women in Generation Z. Although, we have seen many other areas where this divide exists. The Ipsos Generations Report 2025 shows how Gen Z men and women continue to diverge on several social issues, ranging from women’s rights to climate change.”

Key global findings

• Majorities in all countries say that LGBT+ people should be protected from discrimination in areas like employment and housing. But when it comes to passing laws banning discrimination, there is more variation by country: 72% in Thailand and 69% in Spain support such measures, compared with 29% in Hungary and 27% in Türkiye.
• Support for brands promoting LGBT+ rights declines. Support for companies/brands actively promoting equality for LGBT+ (people is down to 41%, on average across 23 countries^**, from 49% in 2021. And opposition has risen to 23% in 2025 from 16% in 2021. Levels of support are highest in Thailand (72%), and 50% or more in Spain, Sweden, Italy, Ireland, South Africa and the Netherlands. This drops to 22% in South Korea and 21% in Türkiye.
• No strong consensus for LGBT+ initiatives at work. 38% of people globally (new, on average across all 26 countries) are in favour of employers having programs/policies that explicitly support/celebrate LGBT+ employees, while 24% oppose this.
• Support for same-sex unions dips. Support for same-sex marriage/ recognition is now down to 69% (across 23 countries) from 74% in 2021. Those in Spain (86%), Sweden and the Netherlands (both at 85%) are most in favour.
• Support for transgender athletes down 10 points since 2021. Only 22% (across 23 countries) in 2025 are in favour of trans athletes competing based on the gender they identify with rather than the sex they were assigned at birth, down from 27% in 2024 and 32% in 2021. Opposition is currently strongest in Great Britain and Hungary (both at 61%).
• Gen Z women continuing to lean liberal. Younger females are the cohort most in support of a range of LGBT+ protections, rights and visibility. For example, 49% of Generation Z^*** women support having more LGBT+ characters on TV, in films and in advertising versus 22% of Baby Boomers and 23% of Generation X men.

About the study

These are the results of a 26-country survey conducted by Ipsos. We interviewed 19,028 people online between April 25, and Friday, May 9, 2025. Quotas were set to ensure representativeness and data have been weighted to the known population profile of each country. The sample consists of approximately 1,000 individuals each in Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Spain, and the U.S., and 500 individuals each in Argentina, Belgium, Chile, Colombia, Hungary, Indonesia, Ireland, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, Peru, Poland, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, and Türkiye. The sample in India consists of approximately 2,200 individuals, of whom approximately 1,800 were interviewed face-to-face and 400 were interviewed online.

Sources:

^*The “26-country average” reflects the average result for all the countries and markets where the survey was conducted. It has not been adjusted to the population size of each country or market and is not intended to suggest a total result.

^**Change for 23-country average is based on the countries which were in prior editions of the Ipsos LGBT+ Pride report.

^***Generation Z (born between 1996-2012), Millennials (born between 1980-1995), Generation X (born between 1966-1979) and Baby Boomers (born between 1945-1965).