A man who has lived as a woman for eight years warns that surprising data on teen gender identity may not tell the whole story

Walt Heyer says social media and peer pressure may explain why fewer teens now identify as gay or bisexual, casting doubt on the CDC data trend

The changer questions the "dramatic free fall" in teenagers who identify as gay or bisexual

A man who spent eight years identifying as a woman cast doubt on reports of a dramatic decline in teenagers identifying as gay or bisexual, warning that social media and peer pressure may be influencing how young Americans describe their sexuality.

"I really don't believe there's been a huge, dramatic free fall," Heyer said, referring to recent reports of declining rates of gay and bisexual identity among some teenagers.

Log Cabin Republicans Remove 'T' From LGBT Support, Say 'Radical' Trans Activists Are Stripping Gay Support

Walt Hare lived as a woman for eight years under the name "Laura Jensen" and then returned as a man. (Walt Hare)

"I think what's happening is that because of social media, there's a lot more influence on people who may not want to be categorized on a social media level and shy away from the fact that they're gay or bisexual, but they don't really want to openly admit it," Heyer said.

The comments came after the Washington Post highlighted CDC data showing that the percentage of ninth-grade girls who identify as lesbian or bisexual fell from 30 percent in 2021 to 17 percent in 2025. The share who are bisexual alone has decreased from 26% to 13%.

Parisha Moseley: As a mother and as an activist, I know what gender ideology has stolen from me.

The percentage of boys who are gay or bisexual has remained roughly unchanged over the past decade, according to CDC data reported by The Washington Post. (iStock)

According to the Post, the percentage of boys who identify as gay or bisexual has remained largely unchanged over the past decade, while the share of high school girls who identify as gay or bisexual increased after the COVID-19 pandemic before beginning to decline.

Heyer, an author and author of several books including "Survivors of Life" and "Paper Genders," who has spent years working with people questioning their gender identity, argued that social dynamics among young people can complicate efforts to interpret the findings.

"I had real people at school who said they were bullied for identifying one way, or bullied and bullied for not identifying," she says.

Blue State school district accused of defying Supreme Court, concealing gender transition from parents

2025 change agent Walt Hare cast doubt on data showing fewer teens identifying as LGBTQ, citing the influence of social media and peer pressure. (iStock)

Heyer also said she believes peer and societal pressures are important factors in children choosing to identify with something other than their biological sex.

"The interesting thing about this is that a lot of kids are kind of pressured by their peers to say things a certain way, so I was very skeptical about what kids were saying, whether they were gay or bisexual," Heyer said.

"I don't really believe there was a huge free fall. I think it was a free fall in people identifying as gay or bisexual." "I think what's happening is that because of social media, there's a lot more influence on people who may not want to be categorized on a social media level and avoid the fact that they're gay or bisexual, but they don't really want to admit it," he added.

An activist confronts a California lawmaker about the harms of gender transition. Here is why he spoke

Walt Hare works with people struggling with gender identity. (iStock)

Simply, but perhaps most importantly, Heyer said, he thinks adults need to do a better job of affirming only what is right.

"I think what I've really discovered is that we now know and have real evidence and evidence that no one has ever changed their gender," Heyer said. I did the hormones, I did all the surgeries, that's how I was diagnosed. So far in the history of the world, no one has biologically changed their gender. It is a cosmetic social appearance, not a biological change."

“And when you come to that conclusion, you realize that really procedures and these terms and labels, what I reject as God's labels, God rejects procedures in every aspect. This is the way that young people and adults reject God by taking these labels and say that God does not exist.

Spoilers reveal how doctors lured them into life-changing treatment as teenagers

Walt Hare, who spent eight years identifying as a woman, now spends his life helping others who are confused about their gender accept biological reality. (from Walt Hare)

Heyer also urged researchers to do more studies before concluding that the numbers represent a lasting shift in gender identity.

"I just think it's important for us to be a lot more specific and go to other areas before we jump to the conclusion that there's a giant drop in these identities," he said. "I don't think we're there yet."

Get all the stories you need to know from the most powerful names in news delivered to your inbox every morning.