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

Walt Heyer, a senior fellow at the Family Research Council, has expressed skepticism about recent reports of a decline in teenagers identifying as gay or bisexual. Heyer, who spent eight years identifying as a woman before detransitioning, believes that social media and peer pressure may be influencing how young Americans describe their sexual orientation.

Heyer made these comments in an exclusive video interview with Fox News Digital, in which he noted that he remains unconvinced by the apparent shift in identification rates. He suggested that some teenagers may be reluctant to openly identify as gay or bisexual due to social pressures, and that this may be reflected in the numbers.

According to data highlighted by The Washington Post, the percentage of ninth-grade girls identifying as lesbian or bisexual fell from 30% in 2021 to 17% in 2025. The share identifying as bisexual alone dropped from 26% to 13% over the same period. However, Heyer argued that social dynamics among young people could complicate attempts to interpret the findings.

Heyer has spent years working with people questioning their gender identities, and has written extensively on the topic. He believes that peer and societal pressures are significant factors in kids choosing to identify with something else that is not their biological sex. He also noted that social media can play a significant role in shaping young people's self-identification.

Heyer urged researchers to conduct additional studies before concluding that the numbers reflect a lasting shift in sexual identity. He emphasized the need for a more thorough approach to understanding the complex factors at play.