By Willi Zhang
Nearly 16% of people changed their sexual identity over a 12-year period, according to a new study I conducted with my colleagues, involving around 35,000 residents of Stockholm County. This challenges long-held beliefs about sexual identity being largely fixed.
Between 2010 and 2021, we found that 15.7% of people aged 18 and older in Stockholm experienced shifts in their sexual identity. Bisexual people had a high rate of change, with 52% reporting a shift during the study period. Within this group, 33% changed to identifying as heterosexual in 2014 or 2021 and 9% moved towards a homosexual identity.
Homosexual people followed at 36%. Within this group, 26% changed to identifying as heterosexual in 2014 or 2021 and 7% shifted to a bisexual identity.
Heterosexual people had a much lower rate of change at 7%. Notably, about half of those identifying as bisexual in 2021 had previously identified as heterosexual in 2010.
Similar patterns have been observed internationally. In countries like Australia, New Zealand, the UK, and the US, studies report that between 5% and 30% of people changed their sexual identity over various time periods.
These findings challenge the common belief that sexual orientation is biologically predetermined and unchanging throughout life. While sexual orientation broadly includes how people identify themselves, who they’re attracted to, and how they act on those feelings, these studies show that sexual identity can evolve over time.
This may be influenced by personal experiences, relationships and shifts in societal attitudes, such as a growing acceptance of different types of relationships.
What is sexual identity?
Sexual identity refers to how people perceive and label their own sexuality – whether they consider themselves heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual or another identity. It’s based on personal attractions, experiences, and understandings. It can change over time and is not always fixed from birth.
For example, I identify as gay, but that wasn’t always the case. Growing up, I assumed I was heterosexual, because everyone around me – family, friends, classmates – seemed straight. That changed when I went to college at 17, where I became close friends with a male classmate.
Over time, I started to like him in a romantic way. I was both excited and scared, questioning who I was and how I wanted to live my life. It took two years of self-exploration to understand and accept my new identity as gay. A personal journey like this is one of many examples of how life experiences and self-discovery can shape one’s understanding of their sexuality.
Shutterstock/Jacob Lund
Why it matters
Societal attitudes play a crucial role in whether people feel safe being open about their sexual identity. While increased visibility of LGBTQ+ people in media and public life has led to a more accepting environment, polarisation in social acceptance of LGBTQ+ people continues. At the same time, many view sexual identity as fixed.
These negative attitudes and fixed views reinforce sexual stigma and prejudice, leaving people afraid to express themselves and fearful of judgement or discrimination. By raising awareness about the natural fluidity of sexual identity, we can help break down these barriers and create a more inclusive society where people feel safe to express who they are as their identities evolve.
Schools and community programmes can include discussions about the fluidity of sexual identity to promote understanding and acceptance. Understanding that sexual identity can change over time, particularly among younger people, can help reduce stigma and cultivate a more supportive learning environment.
People experiencing changes in their sexual identities may face health challenges, such as emotional distress, depressive symptoms, or difficulties with tobacco or alcohol use. Our research indicates that bisexual and homosexual people are most likely to experience such changes.
It would help if healthcare workers, particularly those supporting the LGBTQ+ community, are aware of this. Knowing about these challenges could help them adapt their care to better support those with evolving identities.
Recognising that sexual identity can change is also relevant for shaping inclusive laws and regulations. People who transition from one sexual identity to another may face doubt, judgement or even victimisation.
Protections could then be expanded to include not only a person’s current sexual identity but also changes in their identity, which may better help combat discrimination. In addition, promoting mental health services tailored to those navigating changes ensures that support is accessible to those who need it.
By fostering inclusive attitudes, policies, and support systems, people can feel safe and supported to explore and define their sexual identities authentically. As society continues to evolve in its understanding of sexuality, acknowledging the fluid nature of sexual identity can help increase acceptance of diversity and empower people to live openly and confidently as their true selves.
Willi Zhang is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Department of Global Public Health at Karolinska Institutet, Sweden.
Phillip says
It is a lost cause.
Back to normal M and F.
DaleL says
As with all “studies”, there is the question of the researcher’s motives and methods. Willi Zhang stated that he identifies as “gay”. The study was conducted in Sweden in Stockholm County which is metropolitan and includes the capital, Stockholm City. Without diving into the demographics of the study, I suspect that Stockholm might have an elevated percentage of individuals who identify as non-heterosexual. As Willi Zhang wrote, heterosexual individuals were far less likely to report changing their sexual orientation. Thus a sample of people that contains a higher percentage of heterosexual individuals would also report being less fluid in sexual orientation. Finally, the responses are self reported and subject to interpretation.
Sexual orientation is a bit like religion. It is all fine and dandy for a person to have one. That doesn’t mean that it is okay to proverbially shove either one in the face of others.
R.S. says
What difference does it make to me or you or the neighbors whether I love a man or a woman or am a man or a woman as long as I take the trash out, keep the car in the garage or at least in the driveway, and participate in communally responsible activities. If you kiss someone in public, why cannot I do so as well? If you hold hands with someone in public, why cannot I as well? What difference does any of this make as long as I’m not acting violent toward you? I just don’t get it. Why on earth would I want to invade the privacy of someone else’s jollies as long as I’m not involved and nobody ia forcibly violated? President Troglodyte thinks that he needs to divide people up into male-female? Why on earth is that any of his business? I feel one hell of a lot more violated by Musk’s performing the NAZI salute in an announcement what seems to be brewing for our future than by any kid’s wearing shorts or a skirt.
DaleL says
Technically Musk performed the Fascist “Roman” salute. The “Roman” salute is similar to the Bellamy salute (Our old flag salute). The Bellamy salute accompanied the Pledge of Allegiance to our Flag until it was replaced by the hand over the heart salute in 1942. The “Roman” salute included the chest thump which Musk predominately used. (I don’t think there is any historical evidence that ancient Romans ever really used such a salute.)
Nazism is a particularly evil and foul subset of Fascism.
As to why Elon Musk would pointedly do a “Roman” Fascist salute twice (That I observed.) is still troubling.
Pogo says
@DaleL
Sincerely, thank you for the best comment on this that will ever be said.
Man is the only animal that blushes–or needs to.
— Mark Twain
Skibum says
Kola, I don’t know what in the world you are talking about! Did you not read that the study which was the focus of the article stated in plain English there were 35,000 study participants? How many thousands of people did you study for a lengthy period of time before coming to your astounding conclusion that the article’s information about sexuality is in error? Oh, I know the answer to that question… NONE. You are a study participant of ONE, yourself, and yet you possess the cosmic ability of understanding sexuality to the point that you disavow and throw out a 35,000 participant study because it doesn’t comport to your own life. Are you a qualified expert in human sexuality? The only thing that is “hesterical”… and BTW it is spelled HYSTERICAL, is your comment, showing an obvious lack of any foundational knowledge or expertise on this subject matter.
Endless dark money says
The murican nazis won’t stand for such freedom. You are NOT free to live how you choose even though it hurts no one.
Please don’t notice the billionaires lining their pockets with your tax dollars. hate on minorities and gay people instead. No doubt the end times are interesting. Don’t look up