A recent study shows that far fewer college students are identifying as transgender or other non-traditional gender identities than just a few years ago. This change may mark a shift in how young Americans think about gender, therapy, and identity. The findings could also have long-term effects on U.S. politics, education, and how individual rights are understood and protected.
Eric Kaufmann, a politics professor at the University of Buckingham, studied survey data from 68,000 college students in the United States. The survey asked students to choose how they identify from a list that included man, woman, nonbinary, agender, genderqueer or genderfluid, unsure, or prefer not to say.
In 2022 and 2023, about 6.8 percent of students identified as a gender other than male or female. That number dropped to 5.2 percent in 2024 and even further to 3.6 percent in 2025. This means the percentage of students identifying as transgender or nonbinary has been cut nearly in half in just two years.
Kaufmann also found that fewer students are identifying as queer or bisexual. At the same time, the number of students identifying as heterosexual has gone up by about 10 percentage points since 2023. Interestingly, the drop in non-traditional gender and sexual identities is most noticeable among younger students. First-year students are less likely to identify as transgender or queer than seniors, suggesting that this trend may continue in future classes.
One possible explanation for this shift is a change in mental health. Kaufmann’s report says that students who are less anxious or depressed are also less likely to identify as transgender or queer. He suggests that better mental health may help students feel more comfortable in their own skin, making them less likely to question their gender identity.
Another reason could be that the rise in trans and queer identities was part of a larger trend or social movement that is now fading. Kaufmann compares it to a fashion trend that loses popularity over time. While this doesn’t mean that being transgender is just a trend, it could mean that some young people were experimenting with labels during a time of social change and are now settling into more traditional identities.
Experts have also weighed in on the findings. Dr. Marc Siegel, a senior medical analyst at Fox News, said the study is important but leaves questions unanswered. He wonders how much of the change is due to culture or whether some young people may have worked through feelings of gender confusion without needing medical or social transition.
Dr. Jonathan Alpert, a psychotherapist in New York, believes the shift might be a “natural correction.” He noted that for several years, therapy culture and social media may have encouraged people to label all emotional struggles as signs of being trans or nonbinary. Now, he says, people may be more willing to work through their feelings without jumping to conclusions about their gender identity.
The drop in non-traditional gender identities could have political implications as well. Over the past decade, debates over gender identity have influenced laws, school policies, and healthcare rules. A decline in the number of people identifying as transgender may reduce the pressure on institutions to change policies or add new protections. On the other hand, it could also raise questions about how past policies were created and whether they were based on long-term needs or short-term trends.
Finally, this trend touches on the issue of individual liberties. Some people worry that social pressure or therapy culture has pushed young people toward certain identities. Others believe that everyone should be free to explore who they are without judgment. As the numbers shift, the country will continue to debate how best to support young people while respecting both individual rights and scientific evidence.
Kaufmann’s full report, “The Decline of Trans and Queer Identity among Young Americans,” has not yet been peer-reviewed but adds new insights into how American youth are thinking about identity in 2025. Whether this change is lasting or temporary remains to be seen, but it clearly signals a shift in the national conversation.
