Scientists Honing Gaydar

But we need better surveys for a more accurate number: demographer

(NEWSER) - The true number remains elusive, but one demographer estimates that more than 9 million Americans—roughly the population of New Jersey—are gay, lesbian, or bisexual. Gary Gates averaged the results of five US surveys conducted between 2004 and 2009 to find that 3.5% of Americans identify themselves as gay, lesbian, or bisexual, he says in a report released today. More»

Municipalities in Texas, Ohio make the list

(NEWSER) - It might not shock you to discover that San Francisco has the largest concentration of gays and lesbians in America, but you might be a bit more surprised to learn that Columbus, Ohio, comes in at No. 16, ahead of Los Angeles (No. 18) and Miami (No. 20). The Daily Beast runs down the 20 cities with the highest proportion of same-sex couples:

• San Francisco: Ranks No. 1 with 12.4 same-sex couples per thousand households, 60% of which are men.

Starlet nixes mag's offer for tell-all about coming out

(NEWSER) - Lindsay Lohan turned down a $1 million offer from OK! to come out on the magazine's cover, the New York Post reports. Lohan and the gossip weekly were negotiating a story about her relationship with celebrity DJ Samantha Ronson. "Lindsay really wants this to happen and she needs the money," said a source, but the starlet's flak says there's nothing in the works. More»

Gay relationships abound in animal kingdom

(NEWSER) - It may throw a wrench in Noah's ark-stocking plans, but same-sex relationships appear in many animal species, reports LiveScience.com. The long list of animals that practice gay sex includes bears, penguins, gorillas, and dolphins, among others. But scientists question the act's evolutionary purpose, because it doesn't aid in reproduction. It may be an adaptation for nurturing offspring, or just a dry run. More»

Just walking can reveal sexual orientation, new study shows

(NEWSER) - The way people walk apparently broadcasts their sexual orientation, researchers have discovered. Participants in a new study were able to correctly identify gay men based only on their gait, a sign that “gaydar” might be real. “We can pick these signals up; we can tell who’s gay,” said one researcher. Well, at least in men. Women, by contrast, baffled observers. More»